Thursday 12 November 2009

no s**t sherlock

Sign in Pub window only a few yards from my office, in the middle of a student area. I know students are dumb these days but this takes the biscuit

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Is this a new month?

This was a sign outside King's College Chapel in Cambridge. You'd think they would be able to spell in a University Town now wouldn't you?

Tuesday 22 September 2009

the perils of musak and rock's revenge



I've never posted a video before but I love this

Sunday 13 September 2009

Can anybody translate, please?


I was sent this job spec recently. I'd love to know what the job actually entails




Herewith thoughts for a potential 6 month project for our secondee.


Objective - To develop a pipeline of compelling Value Propositions for priority segments in corporate/government markets

–Which adjacent markets are ‘closer’ to home and present quick win opportunities?
–In which adjacent markets can we fast track Value Propositions (VP’s) that require little development and less capability stretch?
–Where are the ‘further out’ opportunities in attractive adjacent market segments that may require additional capabilities or partnerships but that will help you leapfrog competitors and will be the foundation of the future business.

The challenge: To find propositions that have maximum traction in a broad range of verticals and workflow types

VP’s by workflow types?
Case management
Claims
Fulfilment
Complaints
Quotations
Expense management
Risk Management?

VP’s by corporate vertical?
Insurance
Banking
FMCG
Telecommunications
?
VP’s by Government vertical?
Regulators
Ombudsman
Local Authorities
Services (police, health)
?

Suggested process –

1. Prioritise, (through competitor/ market analysis and internal interviews), attractive segments within the corporate and government markets for work flow solutions
2. Gain market leading insight into the pain points, unmet needs, purchasing barriers for workflow solutions within the attractive segments
3.Build & validate a portfolio of quick win and breakthrough VP’s that will capitalise on unmet needs, displaying strong commercial potential and that are deliverable for LN
4. Recommend through a robust financial & commercial evaluation which value propositions LN should prioritise for immediate & longer term development

Friday 12 June 2009

Another R.I.P- Dedicated to you but you weren't listening


It's been a long time since I posted. The Computer has been monopolised by my eldest who has been revising AND constantly on MSN at the same time. But I could not let the passing of one of my musical heroes pass without comment.


Many people will have not heard of Hugh Hopper. Nobody ever remembers the Bass player Yet Hugh was a crucial part of the Canterbury Scene. Without him Robert Wyatt would never have started playing as they were best friends at School. He replaced Kevin Ayers in Soft Machine and was ever present during that band's best period (albums Two to Six) Soft Machine and it's various derivatives has always been a personal favourite and rarely a week goes by without at least one of tehir tracks coming up at random on my MP3 player or else I conciously play an album or bootleg. As robert Wyatt's vocals are so distinctive so was Hugh's bass playing
I learnt of his death from leukemia today when I read his obit in the paper. May he rest in peace

Thursday 5 March 2009

forza venenzia







A weekend away, the rest of the week running to catch up. Music, Arts, Canals and no kids


Thursday 26 February 2009

On slips such as this new religions are made

It was Ash Wednesday yesterday. Part of the first reading should have been

"O Lord, do not give up your heritage to shame, so that the nations become their rulers"

The Reader read

"O Lord, do not give up your herrings to shame, so that the natures become their rulers"

I had to stifle a giggle but the general congregation remained unmoved

Wednesday 18 February 2009

An overweight penguin?



Lubetkin's classic design has been devoid of penguins for some time, but a different animal was spotted there on a visit today - The greater spotted painter/decorator. Note the classic non- working pose, hand in pocket, about to light fag


Monday 2 February 2009

London is closed








This was the view from my office window this morning,


only 10 of the 300 odd people who work in my office made it in today.


Moscow gets more snow in an hour than we had last night yet everything works perfectly.



still some people had fun

Thursday 29 January 2009

John Martyn R.I.P

I will leave it to others to post his music but the news today that he died aged only 60 was a shock. Of all the musicians I love I probably saw him live the most starting at The Reading Hexagon back in 1981 at the insistence of my co-student, Ivor. He (John Martyn that is, not Ivor!) lived life to the full and often his lyrics were incomprehensible but you could always be sure of a great show.

Friday 9 January 2009

Not Seventeenth Century living











Ralph asked for photos of where we staying in Romsey. We've stayed there so often that I cannot actually find any pictures of the house. I'll have to take some next time. So instead I'll put up some random pictures of Bournemouth trees and Angels!