tfpl blog

Blogging typos!

Interestingly someone yesterday told me that the instant publishing nature of blogging means that typos and mistakes may be more forgivable than if the error was made in print.

As an editor in a previous existence I live in fear of sending out something unproofed with a dreadful spellchecked error.   'Raining curses' rather than 'training courses' for example. 

Here's a near miss spell-checked error that was picked up before anything went to print.  Under the headline 'The TFPL blog' the sentence underneath read 'come and have a conversation on the TFPL bog'.

Classic.

Online update

Day Two of Online.  Problems on the tube network (District and Piccadilly lines affected) meant a rather breathless arrival on the stand this morning.  Let's just say I saw more of west London today than I have in 25 years.  And I am now an expert on the local bus routes if anyone wants to test me!

People were really interested to hear Candy speak about various people motivation techniques (and it's not ALL about the cash folks!).  Not that it doesn't help but, as they say, there is more to life.

The sun is pouring in through the glass roof.  It is most definitely NOT Online weather.  Meanwhile, in the background, I can hear that lovely hum of hundreds of conversations. 

What a drama

The TFPL stand is hosting 'taster' seminars throughout Online (have a look on the website via this link to look at the programme). 

We are about to experience Drama for Training for the second time today (they packed out the stand earlier on today so they are 'back by popular demand'!).

Good morning from Online!

Well, the doors have just opened to the public for Online 2006!  I have tried not to count exactly how many Online shows I have attended (woman and child of course!), but I still love the atmosphere of being on the stand, meeting and catching up with people, and finding out what everyone has been up to.  Best of all, on the first morning, is to check out which people really really enjoyed themselves at the big party the night before!

The Science Museum was a great venue.  Well done to everyone who had a hand in organising the Information Professionals' party this year. 

Work Foundation reports

The Work Foundation have recently published two reports that should interest information professionals.  'Public Service and ICT' reviews the progress being made, and the challenges, in moving from eGovernment to transformational government.  'Ideopolis: the knowledge city regions' discusses the contribution that 'knowledge' makes to economic success and quality of city life.  Both reports are available on their web site www.theworkfoundation.com.

Alexandra Jones, Research Director at the Work Foundation, and author of both reports, will be talking at TFPL's Bath Club on 12th Dec.   

Take it for granted.

They are quite a cultured bunch in our office, with lunchtime trips to the Tate and evening theatre visits; we have Val waxing lyrical about a walk on Millennium bridge. As for me, the most culture I get is choosing the Guatemalan roast at Starbucks and walking past St. Paul's Cathedral on my way to M&S.

I hear everyone bemoaning how sad it is that we take London for granted and don’t appreciate the sites we have, but I think that’s the best part of living in London, it's home (for most of my 27 years) and it's beautiful and I can take that for granted, much like a loving family member, whom I don’t have to constantly flatter for them to know I care.  I just hope I have the same fondness for my husband after 27 years.

Bridging the gap!

It is so easy to get trapped at your desk sometimes.  For the last few days I haven't managed to leave the building at lunchtime.  So today, encouraged by colleagues, I set out for some fresh air.  I took a lovely walk over Millennium Bridge, stopping half way to look down into the Thames before crossing all the way to the Tate Modern.  Then I turned around and walked back to Blackfriars.  It only took 20 minutes out of my day, but it was lovely.  Tomorrow, I shall take a big group of colleagues - whether they like it or not!

Cold call victim

As previously discussed, there's something energising about moving your desk and settling in with new neighbours.  I am now sitting opposite Sharon who looks after just about everything for us - from office design to office management and from mobile phone contracts to mending dishwashers.  Sharon is my new role model.  Every day she politely deflects a stream of painful sales calls.  She says thank you and listens carefully to everyone. I don't know how she puts up with it.  Today, I have written down every call she has taken from these chaps.  The list so far is: property (new offices anyone?); someone selling a journal subscription; two recruitment agencies (do they know what we do?!); one photocopier manufacturer; telephone services.  And this is a quiet day.  I admire her patience enormously.  Do other people get so many cold calls?  How do you deal with them?

A return to old fashioned values

It's strange when you suddenly stop relying on emails at work isn't it?  We have taken up some lovely 'old fashioned' techniques.  We have been using the telephone more and walking around the office talking to each other!  Most thrillingly of all, today I received my first 'internal memo' for years!  [Younger readers may wish to ask colleagues about the memo. It's an old fashioned comunications technique!]. I know we probably all joked in the past about no email days and the joys of talking.  It's true... I hope I am able to change my own behaviour even when my email is up and running. 

Drinking = more money?

Many years ago, having been taken out by new colleagues and ordering an orange juice, the MD stood on a chair, welcomed me to the company and followed up with the line 'You won't get anywhere in publishing unless you start drinking'.

Those looking for an excuse to go out drinking with colleagues might be interested in this research report, by the intriguing Reason Foundation, 'No booze? You may lose - why drinkers earn more money than nondrinkers'.

It really doesn't seem fair does it?  The whole socialising after work scene excludes certain people, including those with families and those who don't drink. There must be other ways to build up social capital.