Bleats and Blogs
Ja, I Am Somewhere
I am always reticent to call someone on their mobile since I am acutely aware of the possibility that I may be irritatingly interrupting them from something important at best, or at worst, dangerously distracting them. So when I do, I make a point of asking up front...
Continuity Over Cash
Recent news got me thinking. In managing my business I considered what is better: a one-off cost of living “bonus” to immediately alleviate domestic financial pressure or a salary increase reflecting some agreed percentage of current inflation levels? As an economist...
Strangers On A Train
Every few months, my colleague and I have a discussion about the pros and cons of social media. I am not a fan and I fret about how much personal information and how many images people unwittingly launch into cyberspace. It always reminds me of a train journey I took...
The Real Art Of The Deal
Many years ago, while visiting a zoo in the UK, I witnessed an interaction between 2 primates that taught me a very valuable lesson about negotiating a commercial deal. I was in the primate enclosure admiring a huge orangutan. He was sitting at the gate to his...
Just A Load Of Hot Air
Regular readers might recall I once wrote a heartfelt blog about a surreal and frustrating conversation I had with an enormous telephone company. After nearly 2 hours of being put on hold, my temper and bladder were at breaking point and I swore blind that companies...
Memo To Myself
Years ago I had a 92 year-old neighbour to whom I will refer in this blog as G. She was a character of note, a forceful and outspoken nonagenarian who would tolerate nowt from anyone. I once witnessed the G response to a poor hapless soul who dared speak in slightly...
A Quartet Of Cuteness
My fifteen years of living in the countryside, 9 years in Hampshire and 6 in Devon saw me share that space with a wide variety of wildlife. From streamlined stoats, noisy owls, phrenetic giant green woodpeckers, lilac kingfishers, scary badgers, road-sense challenged...
My Guilty Secret
I firmly believe everyone is entitled to harbour a guilty secret or two; it’s what makes us human and interesting. Mine is not so much a secret but an obsession. Where Imelda Marcos squirreled away shoes, I horde cookery books. I just cannot resist. My collection...
In Praise Of Pets
Yes we have all done it. Scrolled down twitter or facebook, logged into youtube and watched videos of other people’s pets doing wacky, hilarious stuff. I confess I have even visited the doggy FOR SHAME website where dog owners upload the most obnoxious and antisocial...
Awesome Woman Power
Later this month, Southdown Duvets is doing something very unusual. We are sponsoring a world record shearing attempt. Under normal circumstances, I would not support a competitive event involving the shearing of sheep where speed is at the core of the process. I have...