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Does This Sum Your Day Up?
Posted by KevinD on Jan 27, 2009 in Lessons
The Sad Side Of Recession
Posted by KevinD on Dec 23, 2008 in Lessons
Just back from getting some last minute (in fact all) Christmas presents. I always shop two or three days before the big day as there are huge savings to be made and with the Pound plummeting against the Euro we need to save all we can.
What I really found shocking was the sight of Woolworths. This store was part of my Christmas present schedule, they always had the more hard to find gifts and offered fantastic stocking fillers. This year, with the chain due to shut in the next few days, the scene was truly awful. The staff seemed to be scurrying around and trying to keep what is now a jumble sale, tidy, they also all know that they face starting 2009 without a job. How they can continue working knowing that, I will never know.
I took some pictures, I felt bad but as a blogger want to keep the gritty side of recession and what it means as a reminder on this blog. I do this in the hope that in happier times to come, however far away that may be, we can all look back to this dark day and remember how we felt walking around a sinking ship and remember what we needed to do to survive after. Sorry not a happy Christmas post, they can be seen on fuelmyblog’s blog.
Sadly they are also selling the shelves and staff lockers etc:
I can’t find the words, but hope the folks losing their jobs manage to find something fast.
Telegraph Business Club
I recently signed up and joined the Telegraph Business Club, it seemed to be a good venue for some online business networking along with a great list of events to attend. The only problem is actually networking.
As per their site “The Telegraph Business Club exists to give readers a forum in which to share their views, insights and challenges with each other. We hope this exchange will help to enhance your business performance.”
Ok, so to use the forum, you must click on one of a list of bullet point titles to view the “post”. I did this, found someone requesting help on growing traffic online and using different marketing tactics. Of course I know an angle there 
. So I started searching for a place to leave a comment, a button some text…nothing?
Clicking back I read the following:-
“All member feedback is valuable – no matter how big or small. If you want to provide any comments, articles or raise any issues that you want to leverage input from your peers, then send an email to Talk Back.
Please note that comments may appear with your name and company. If you prefer your comments to be anonymous, please state this in your email.”
Come on Telegraph what is the point in vetting every comment if you allow anonymous comments, install real forum software and lets get talking.
Sheesh.
The heartbreak after hard work
Posted by KevinD on Aug 19, 2008 in Lessons
I am a huge sports fan and for me, the Beijing Olympics have been stunning.
Watching the 100m final blew me away, I never imagined I would ever witness such a feat in my lifetime. For Usain Bolt to destroy a World record is one thing, to destroy it whilst jogging is simply mind-blowing. I have not missed watching a 100m final live since 1980 with Alan Wells conquering the World in Moscow. My most vivid memories are when I woke at 3am in 1988 to see Ben Johnson destroy Carl Lewis’ dream of 100m gold. This was swiftly followed the next day when we woke to hear of Johnson’s drug test failure.
With Team GB setting World Records in the pool and velodrome, it is clear we are in a great position going into the next Olympics in London 2012, let’s hope the athletics team find some investment so we can feature in the showcase events.
But after all of this, for me, the most endearing image was that of a broken man. Liu Xiang, the Chinese hero, pin-up and megastar. For the past four years, he has had the entire National look to him for inspiration and hope. He would have won the gold in the 110m hurdles and been the story of the Olympics. The poor guy arrived for the first race carrying a devastating injury. The worst a hurdler can have, an Achilles tendon injury.
Seeing him prepare for the race, holding his ankle, almost praying it would magically fix itself is something I will never forget. After putting in immense hard work and effort, dreaming of nothing else for years and looking at failure when you have absolutely zero control, it shows how cruel life can be.
I look at myself and things going on right now, and could easily be in the same position, just not so public.
Have you ever had a situation where you prepared so well, worked so hard etc but in the end had the dream taken away from you by no fault of your own? I’d love to hear what happened to you after 
In the UK again..
Please everyone, tell me the truth about the weather, I always pack incorrectly! It is not hot and sunny, it is cold and rainy..!
My Parents always act as the local weather station, this week is no different “OOh it’s lovely and warm, no need for a coat..”
So, dear reader, my workplace has gone overnight from this (not me I must add but I have the option!):-
Laptop on the beach
To this:-
Laptop UK in the Rain
Obviously that is not me, merely a picture of someone trying to enjoy the benefits of working outside..in the UK!
