Twittering Vs Blogging

It seems that the days of the blog may be numbered as the ease, speed and accessibility of Twittering gains greater appeal. At least for this blogger. Being able to Twitter from the iPhone is fun and doable anywhere. See the column to the right for latest tweets.

LinkedIn Twittering Blogging

In an attempt to keep somewhat up to date with business and social networks I have been developed my http://www.linkedin.com/in/keithrobertsjeffrey profile (to some degree of success) as well as Twittering (click link to the right) when I can think of something to tweet! The blog has therefore been neglected. All this stuff could become a full time job which kind of defeats the object?

Holidays

We recently had a weekend Swedish friends at their summer house in Ostergotland. Glorious weather, nature, warm lakes to swim in and simple good food was the order for the few days. Lasse, my pal of 35 years, and his family had just completed the first week of their 7/8 weeks stay at the summer house and were starting to look relaxed (and tanned). We belted back to a cool and fog bound Edinburgh on the Monday. Does Swedish society have something to tell us about the need to take holidays seriously. I need to plan my extended break now!

Summer in the city

27C in Edinburgh is unusual. Working in the heat is equally unusual. When the temperature is like this we enjoy it. Shorts and T shirts is the dress code. The torrential downpours that intersperse the hot sun have caught out families relaxing in the Meadows (the huge park by our office). Yesterday, soaked to the skin parents pushed their kids in buggies homeward. One smiling dad shouted out it's like being in the tropics. It is not often you can say that about Edinburgh!

Budget Vs Money

As a small private company I always scratch my head when I hear the term 'we have the budget'. A business of our scale talks in pounds and pence. We never have to 'spend money' before the end of the financial year but we know of many organisations that 'have to spend their budget' or they will not receive the full allocation next year. This does not sound prudent in recessionary times. Perhaps this is at the core of the MPs expenses debacle. Does the Fee Office have to 'spend' it's budget on an annual basis to ensure full allocation for the next financial year. I wonder?

Technology that's fun

I have now been the proud and sometimes boring owner of an iPhone for three months. Life before iPhone must have been less amusing. As a piece of business kit it is great. Fully integrated with the server at work means that all e-mails are accessible virtually anywhere, calls have great coverage and texting is easier to follow when compared to other mobiles. Compatibility with the car kit is simple - that makes me happy. I am even happier with the applications you can download - the real fun part. I now track the movements of the moon and sun, play instruments with others across the world, Shazam music that I hear and frequently have lightsaber fights on my own or with other iPhone fans. Friends and colleagues pass derogatory comments until they ask for a shot and develop a child like grin of amusement. Well done Apple.

Into Spring

Edinburgh is an interesting place all year round but as we move into Spring it has the added feature of strange weather patterns. Friday 17 April: damp, haar, biting east wind, 4 degrees, full winter clothing, maxing the central heating. Monday 20 April: blindingly bright, wall to wall sunshine, sunscreen, 20 degrees, car aircon on. Let's hope the summer follows the latter pattern.