Saturday, February 25, 2006

whose achievements are the most important?

This blog seems to be turning into a rant against all that is wrong in the world, but I just read something that really annoyed me over on the BBC website.

How unfair is that. How can the BBC not show a decent amout of coverage (look at the Winter Olympic coverage over the last two weeks), when the team is just as worthy of recognition.

In some respects it is an even greater achievement to compete if the athlete is overcoming a difficulty. Just consider the number of injuries that the average football match brings? Those people wouldnever dream of competing unless they were fully fit.

Kinda makes you think a little differently doesn't it?

Friday, February 24, 2006

guess who's the tv junkie?

Ok, so having watched The Apprentice last night, I went on to watch a really good episode of ER over on E4.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!


Talk about powerful stuff. Basic plot premise. Big plane crash over Chicago. There were of course the obligatory plot holes that come from trying to fit a story that could fill a feature film into an hour long tv show. But nevertheless, it was powerful. It did suceed in bringing accross the demands on the medical services.

The most telling comment was the question Abby asked. Was it terrorism? That was the only mention. After that there was only the determined focus on treating the wounded. There was no blame and recrimination. Just people getting on with their job.

Isn't that a good way to live though? I think there may just be a very important lesson to learn there.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

who wears pink trousers anyway?

Oh dear, The Apprentice is back!

This is one of those shows that I really like just for the sheer variety of personalities

Just note though, this will very likely lead to some very long and rambling posts.

I must say though that I did enjoy the first episode of the new series. From my love of people watching, it was great.

So here goes:

The Task: - to make the most profit from a day selling fruit and veg on the streets of Hackney in London. The teams had £500 to purchase produce and then sell it to the general public, with a stall in the street market as a base.

The Teams: - Sir Alan split them in to girls and boys (7 of each) for the task. They are all from different business backgrounds. It should be interesting to say the least.

The Boys:-

Who would have thought that choosing a name would provide such a challenge to the lads group. It took them nearly an hour just to come up with a name, with the very pretentious Syed coming over actually as a bit of a geek by suggesting the "A Team" as a good name for the team. (I think they actually ended up as Invicta?)

By god, there was a lot of management waffle, theories and posing in this team. None of which is a match for just getting out there and doing it. Theories are good, but really shouldn't be spouted randomly in every situation. They all sounded like they'd swallowed a business textbook! At least they took the task seriously though and approached it as a challenge not a game.

I think the biggest problem, not necessarily the weakest player, but the most likely to cause problems is Syed. I think the knowledge and epxerience are there, but the ability to play a team role is not.

There are however some members of the team who failed to even register on the radar, at least as far as the general viewer saw, and those people I couldn't even tell you their names. As the weeks go on though, they'll get weeded out. Should be fun to watch.

There is a real 'blame game' going on in the boys team. No one seemed willing to take any responsibility for their actions (and inaction). I think if Ben had stood up and said I made a mistake, then he would have stayed. I think he made the mistake of shifting, not neccessarily the blame, but the decsion making to the team. It was a gamble I suppose, he was trying to show he was a team player, but in the end it made him look like a weak leader.


The Girls:-

Oh dear oh dear. What were they palying at. I know I said that you sohuldn't spout managment theories left, right, and centre, but that was too far in the opposite direction. Talk about taking advantage of other people, not just the market traders, but the public as well. Its just wrong. I can see why one or two of the girls were a bit apprehensive. I certainly would be.

The real problem for the girls was that they didn't act businesslike. They were to flirtatious and pushy. Its just not good business sense.

Whilst I'm on the subject of the girls, I was sure that Jo would be the one to be fired. She was completely OTT and seemed so unprofessional, which those who know me will affirm that I cannot stand in a business context (and definaltly not in a job interview!?!) I really could not work with such a character. I think that she also wore pink trousers to the board meeting (I may be wrong because it is late now). Who would even dream of wearing such a thing in a business context?! Beats me.


Major issues:-

I think the major difference was the attitude of the two teams. The boys saw it as a challenge whereas the girls saw it as a competition that they had to win at all costs. What worries me is that they came up with the plan in a logical manner, and yet managed to avoid all good business practice and didn't play fair.

Still the girls did do some good things. Obviously they made more profit, but they did delegate and change their plans accordingly. The boys did do this, but on a greatly reduced scale, and just a touch too late to make any difference.


They have got some real lessons to learn though. Most of what they know doesn't mean much unless they can put it into practice. But not in an overt 'I am going to apply this theory' manner. It will certainly show who has read the book, and who had adapted the book to their particular style.

Those who do not recognise that learning is an ongoing process will not do very well, and will only cause choas along the way.

Now I suppose I've got to wait until next week.

Over and Out

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

fairly pleased with myself

I've just managed to get a website up and running for the Explorer Scout unit that I am involved with.

All the programme and activities are now in one place, and we have an up to date presence on the internet again.

WooHoo

ridiculously early post

Guess what...

I actually got up early and went running!

Monday, February 20, 2006

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.

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...

Sunday, February 19, 2006

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...

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

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. :D

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.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

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.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Ok, so it has been a while...

I've been posting over at LJ for quite a while but to be honset I haven't got on so well with the format and layout. I much prefer the Blogger tools so I'm coming back here. I'll likely use LJ a bit for the communities but this is just so much better. I wrote a lot more here and whilst no-one ever read it, I enjoyed writing here.

So, I'm back.

Just a follow up to the 'Guy and Girl' issue from a few posts ago... Girl got the sack and Guy is doing very well. I love it when I'm right.