Author Archives: thatconsultantbloke

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About thatconsultantbloke

Based in North Wiltshire UK I try to have fun whilst making things happen. I spent almost 40 years climbing the corporate ladder before getting bored with being too far from the action. Now I use my experiences of that time, the good and the bad, to keep the bills paid and have fun helping clients turn strategy into positive results.
by | April 8, 2011 · 8:30 am

more on why I’m voting No2AV on 5th May

Deciding who will represent you in parliament and, ultimately, who will run the country is not a marketing survey.

If someone asks you to rate your top 5 or 10 hotel chains, supermarkets, airlines, fashion outlets or whatever then ranking them in order makes sense. It gives a feel for how people see the market and who they rate as number one. You could do the same with one of those, for me puerile, talent and reality shows to decide who to vote off.

But deciding the outcome of an election this way is, to me, completely bonkers.

Yes, I want to see electoral reform and a better way of representing the people, but I do not believe that AV has any place in such reform, so I’m voting No.

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by | April 7, 2011 · 7:11 am

vote no2AV on 5th May – have you spotted the irony with yes2av here?

Having had more Vote Yes for AV material thrust at me the delicious irony of the 5th May referendum has finally broken through to me: The vote is a first past the post one! If more people vote for it than against it will succeed, and will do so by the very system that it desires to eradicate,

So it 15% of the population vote for it, and less than that vote against, it will be passed by a minority.

Given that a few luvvies are queueing up to urge a Yes vote from their fans (who will no doubt vote Yes without understanding why), and that there is a small campaign in favour, but no apparent cry to oppose, we face the strong possibility of having a political nonsense thrust upon us. As WSC might have put it; “never in the field of politics have so few done such damage to so many” (well, other than New Labour of course).

We need change, but not this one. Perhaps I should take to the streets.

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by | April 6, 2011 · 1:32 pm

why I will be voting no2av next month

Despite many of my friends seeming to support the proposed change to the way we elect our politicians I will be voting No on May 5th.

I am in favour of electoral reform, and think that a change is overdue, but this solution is, I think, very poorly designed and unlikely to give us anything better than we have now. In fact I truly think that it could make things worse.

It is a shame that, after waiting so long for there to be a chance of doing something better, all that  is on offer is such an appalling mess. I hope that it does not come to fruition, but am concerned that if my wish comes through it will be a while before we get another chance. Even so, I cannot see the point in voting for change just for the sake of it, especially one that I think is so bad, and so I shall be putting my cross in the No box.

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by | March 28, 2011 · 6:35 am

tough times

Over the last couple of weeks two people we know very well have both been diagnosed with cancer and neither is likely to be around this time next year. Of course such predictions are not always true, but they both have to think about how they deal with what may well be a shortish time left and, sorry if this sounds selfish under the circumstances, those around them, including us, have to consider the impact their last months and passing will have.

As I’ve written in another blog recently we don’t get to choose when our time is up, but when mine comes I would rather it was quick. A lingering demise, as both of my parents had, is hard on those around you. I don’t want to inflict that on anyone.

 

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by | March 27, 2011 · 9:19 pm

a bit of a day!

Finally wrapping up the day. At one stage we thought that we had a Coach Parties Welcome sign at the end of the drive as we’ve had more visitors today than we’d normally get in a month.

I’ve finally finished the VAT return that I started over 12 hours ago, tomorrow’s Monday Musing is loaded ready to appear at 0600, next week is planned and a very welcome bed is calling.

The Berkshire Belle and I lead such tranquil lives normally, so a house guest and a horde of unexpected callers is somewhat disruptive, even if we are pleased to see people.

Normality should return sometime on Tuesday when we’ll be back to just us and the cat.

 

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by | March 22, 2011 · 2:31 pm

letters to the editor – disposing of unpopular leaders

Sir

So our Prime Minister and his government believe that it is acceptable to have an unpopular leader assassinated. Perhaps they should be carefull of what they wish for….

I think that we should be told.

Yours faithfully

Surprised of Swindon

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by | March 21, 2011 · 7:59 pm

couldn’t the BBC just edit Brian Cox out? #fail

Professor Cox is, no doubt, an intelligent man; his qualifications speak for that. He should also know something of communication, after all, he has had an early career in the entertainment business before reaching his current career peak as, effectively, a teacher (he is trying to educate people, is he not?).

I would expect then for him to have grasped a very simple principle; communication is two-way. If people in his audience cannot hear what he is saying then he is wasting his time. It is pointless having music so loud that some of us are trying to lip read.

There is nothing wrong with making an informative TV programme “an experience”, but those watching need to be able to listen as well. If we can’t hear him then he is failing, and I would have thought that he is bright enough to have realised that. I wrote elsewhere today about learning from your mistakes, but you need a level of maturity to do that which Professor Cox seems to be lacking.

His reaction to those who have criticised him I find appalling, and have exercised my rights to the off button. I shall continue to deploy it whenever I see him appear on my TV for the foreseeable future. It will save the BBC the trouble of editing him out and wasting any more precious licence payer’s money.

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by | March 20, 2011 · 8:37 pm

somtimes I forget that I’m not eighteen any more

Another weekend of decorating done, and just a couple of final touches to do before we have a rare house guest at the end of the week. I’ve never enjoyed wallpapering, and this job has meant a lot of fiddly work in confined spaces. The days when I could do all that physically with ease are long past, and I’m sat here writing this feeling the effects of two days of strange contortions.

Age may be taking its toll, but, as those who follow my Monday Musings will see tomorrow, I’ve always advocated pushing the boundaries. Never, never, never give up.

 

 

 

 

 

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by | March 18, 2011 · 7:25 am

thank you Wootton Bassett, and thank you Your Majesty

The folks down the road at Wootton Bassett have been doing something that has seemed sadly lacking in recent years, other than by minorities, in paying their respects. To have been acknowledged in this way is not something that they sought, but that makes it all the more of an honour.

And well done to our Queen as well for bestowing the honour. Royal support has also declined in recent years along with the standards of decency, and it is acts like those  that the people of Wootton Bassett have shown that demonstrate just how far standards have slipped in this country.

So thank you to both town and Queen for standing up for something good and right. As a son of the Royal County I salute you both.

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by | March 9, 2011 · 7:40 pm

No more RingGo at Swindon! FGW you are wrong

I hear that First Great Western and APCOA are ceasing the RingGo service at Swindon (and other) station car parks any day now.

This is a stupid move and I am supporting the campaign to have the decision reversed. If you are with me click on this link to make your protest heard.

Car park machines are a nightmare at somewhere like a railway station. You either need a mountain of change or, if they have a credit card operated one, the patience of a saint as they rarely work. RingGo makes life easy with a simple phone call and, when its a business trip, I can log on later and get a VAT receipt.

All stress free and one of the main reasons why I have started to use the train much more over the last year or so. I want my RingGo back!

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