Tales from the CDG Tardis

Good morning blog pickers, I’ve been neglecting you again, haven’t I? Am in some turmoil as I await the result of my interview last Friday. Definitely wasn’t firing on all cylinders, but maybe emergency booster rockets will have compensated. Hard to concentrate when your brain is simultaneously working on two different prognoses and all their associated implications.

Monday: went at the emails like Kim and Aggie, swept away many and even answered a few, down to a less frightening array now but it can all turn on a dime. Pleasant evening watching Murray play actual tennis, you know the kind of match where chaps actually run about and look interesting instead of just exerting brute force from baseline. Packing mini suitcase again for another trip down to Lullon Tahn.

Tuesday: planning day at a colleague’s house; also known as ‘playing on the wii’ (we didn’t, even, so it was very unfair of management to make such accusations). Got our heads round a few information literacy documents and tasklists and future plans and WebCT evaluation templates, all without having our heads nipped or being interrupted. Lovely lunch too although the crisp Chablis I longed for had to be downgraded to elderflower. Jumped on train to London and finally made a start on that Emotional Intelligence book I bought 3 months ago. Also finished When we were bad for book group, quite a jolly Jewish London romp, although not exactly profound.

So to Wednesday, down in London for the CILIP Equal Opportunities Panel. Still quite new to this outfit so lots of listening and less talking than usual, although I’m interested in how CDG can support the new Positive Action Scheme and also thinking ahead to the next Umbrella debate (aka the Trevor Knight award for gallantry in the face of deliberate provocation), getting my head together with the Diversity Group rep.

Still hoping the mobile will ring with promise of pastures new…

I’ve spent the afternoon emailing Divisions with feedback on their Divisional Plans. The 2008 programme for the group is considerably more inspiring than the miserable weather I can see from my study window! There are intriguing events, appealing pub quizzes and walks, visits to all manner of interesting workplaces - army libraries, cathedrals, colleges, the BBC and more.  The Framework of Qualifications is in safe hands with our dedicate team of Candidate Support Officers - look out for a course near you. We continue to reach out to students, to under-represented groups and to our whole membership, whether it’s through events, informal get-togethers, meetings, social technologies, newsletters and more. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at our May National Council and hearing more about the work on the ground.

But I can’t just stand here blogging all day - I need to warm pizzas and pour wine in readiness for the second episode of the new series of Doctor Who. (Oh stop sighing, it’s my blog and I’ll obsess if I want to!) Just for the record, yes I did enjoy the first episode, yes I do think Donna will work out fine as a companion (I loved that she had a boot full of suitcases ready packed, including hatbox), yes the Adipose were silly but who cares, that’s entertainment! (Cue Jam intro…)

Eddie Izzard does a great routine in which he unpacks the rodent section of that well-worn saying “the best laid plans of mice and men gang oftentimes aglay” (OK Scottish people, don’t hunt me down if I misquoted that!!) If I remember rightly, it includes a bilingual pastiche of The Italian Job (”vous n’avez que faire sauter les portes”). Anyway, look it up, it’s hilarious.

This afternoon I’ve been reading the 2008 Divisional Plans (OK, just those five that have actually been submitted. I’ll be nagging the other seven Divisions this week!) It’s fantastic to see the work that is going on - inspiring events… intriguing visits… fresh air and exercise… newsletters and e-experiments… committed personal suppport to qualifications candidates… reaching out to partner organisations and local LIS schools. All this good work carried out by our network of volunteers, who all have day jobs, lives and fingers in so many other pies they can only be working for Dundee’s own Desperate Dan. Activists are wonderful people; have you hugged one lately or told them how much you appreciate their hard work and energy? And we even have our own yoghurt. I like the prune one, personally. Keeps you regular. A bit like business planning processes.

My garden is being invaded by baby rabbits. I wonder what’s in their best-laid plans?