I am slipping on my blog updates already in what is a very hectic time and have been struck down by a very heavy cold (I think it is man flu) for the last few weeks so feeling very sorry of myself
Thursday, 22nd November 2007 – went to the home of lawn tennis at Wimbledon to attend the Institute of Clerks lunch with David Magor. We sat on the table of one of the award winners for the quality of his car park built at the soon to be opened Terminal 5 at Heathrow
Friday 23rd November 2007 – a full day at work before attending the East Midlands Association Dinner which was my first association dinner as President. A good night finished in the very early hours. The speech seemed to go down well although I had plenty of material from recent escapades and the fact that I had given up an invitation to speak in Brazil in preference to a night out in Derby !!
Saturday/Sunday – spent catching up on work and some Xmas shopping
Monday 26th November 2007 – an early morning in work before getting a train for an afternoon meeting with CLG people on how best to promote Government Connect and the Council along with Kevin Stewart representing Bedford had a good meeting in London to determine how best to kick start this initiative which will surely now gather pace as a result of the HMRC issue that has brought an abrupt halt to data sharing
Tuesday 27th November 2007 – another early morning before embarking on the long winding journey to South Norfolk DC to speak at the East Anglian association on the issues of Varney. It was good to see so many recently qualified people there who came to receive their certificates (note to secretary: always have a back up plan if the camera doesn’t work!)
Wednesday 28th November 2007 – in London again firstly with BACS, VOCALINK and the CLG discussing the efficiency agenda and the role of DD and then an afternoon with David and officials from the Ministry of Justice discussing the implications of the C, E and Tribunals Act. It promises to be a challenging time for all involved in distress over the next 18 months.
Thursday 29th November 2007 – popped into Manchester for a series of meetings to start to plan next years Annual conference before arriving in Dumfries early evening in advance of the Scottish Revenues and Benefits forum. The video has already been posted of the evenings entertainment, the now legendry Chinese Karaoke where you are ok if you know songs pre 1977 and are fluent in Chinese as required by most of the sub titles to songs!. The rendition of Summer Nights saved by Hilary Kelly, the Scottish President was not a classic. My excuse is I have been suffering with a cold for a few days and I’m sticking to it
Friday 30th November 2007 – got up feeling very sorry for myself. Cough and spluttered through my half hour speech before David drove us home on an horrendous 6 hour journey in lashing rain.
Spent the weekend in bed with a terrible cold although struggled into work on 3rd and 4th before flying up to Scotland for the benefits conference late afternoon with Julie meeting up with another Julie, Mrs Holden, the Senior Vice President who drove us to Crieff. Both Julie and I are full of colds hence the beauty of Scotland in December passed us by as we spend most of the time confined to the room snivelling and feeling generally unwell! albeit surfacing to give my paper, attend the gala dinner and as many of the papers as possible.
7th December 2007 – worked from home in preference to going to London and similarly spent most of the weekend holed up. I think it is time to put the red cross on the door !
I have cancelled all my IRRV activities this week commencing 10 December (I need to get better, doctors orders who says I shouldn’t be at work ) so will be combining working from home with a few important work meetings with a view that I can get rid of the sneezing and coughing.
Signing off one seemingly pathetic IRRV President
Thursday, 22nd November 2007 – went to the home of lawn tennis at Wimbledon to attend the Institute of Clerks lunch with David Magor. We sat on the table of one of the award winners for the quality of his car park built at the soon to be opened Terminal 5 at Heathrow
Friday 23rd November 2007 – a full day at work before attending the East Midlands Association Dinner which was my first association dinner as President. A good night finished in the very early hours. The speech seemed to go down well although I had plenty of material from recent escapades and the fact that I had given up an invitation to speak in Brazil in preference to a night out in Derby !!
Saturday/Sunday – spent catching up on work and some Xmas shopping
Monday 26th November 2007 – an early morning in work before getting a train for an afternoon meeting with CLG people on how best to promote Government Connect and the Council along with Kevin Stewart representing Bedford had a good meeting in London to determine how best to kick start this initiative which will surely now gather pace as a result of the HMRC issue that has brought an abrupt halt to data sharing
Tuesday 27th November 2007 – another early morning before embarking on the long winding journey to South Norfolk DC to speak at the East Anglian association on the issues of Varney. It was good to see so many recently qualified people there who came to receive their certificates (note to secretary: always have a back up plan if the camera doesn’t work!)
Wednesday 28th November 2007 – in London again firstly with BACS, VOCALINK and the CLG discussing the efficiency agenda and the role of DD and then an afternoon with David and officials from the Ministry of Justice discussing the implications of the C, E and Tribunals Act. It promises to be a challenging time for all involved in distress over the next 18 months.
Thursday 29th November 2007 – popped into Manchester for a series of meetings to start to plan next years Annual conference before arriving in Dumfries early evening in advance of the Scottish Revenues and Benefits forum. The video has already been posted of the evenings entertainment, the now legendry Chinese Karaoke where you are ok if you know songs pre 1977 and are fluent in Chinese as required by most of the sub titles to songs!. The rendition of Summer Nights saved by Hilary Kelly, the Scottish President was not a classic. My excuse is I have been suffering with a cold for a few days and I’m sticking to it
Friday 30th November 2007 – got up feeling very sorry for myself. Cough and spluttered through my half hour speech before David drove us home on an horrendous 6 hour journey in lashing rain.
Spent the weekend in bed with a terrible cold although struggled into work on 3rd and 4th before flying up to Scotland for the benefits conference late afternoon with Julie meeting up with another Julie, Mrs Holden, the Senior Vice President who drove us to Crieff. Both Julie and I are full of colds hence the beauty of Scotland in December passed us by as we spend most of the time confined to the room snivelling and feeling generally unwell! albeit surfacing to give my paper, attend the gala dinner and as many of the papers as possible.
7th December 2007 – worked from home in preference to going to London and similarly spent most of the weekend holed up. I think it is time to put the red cross on the door !
I have cancelled all my IRRV activities this week commencing 10 December (I need to get better, doctors orders who says I shouldn’t be at work ) so will be combining working from home with a few important work meetings with a view that I can get rid of the sneezing and coughing.
Signing off one seemingly pathetic IRRV President
