Keith's Blog

Twittering Vs Blogging

2009-10-01T09:47:00.002+01:00

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

2009-09-08T09:47:00.006+01:00

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

2009-07-15T15:32:00.003+01:00

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

2009-07-02T10:37:00.002+01:00

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

2009-06-05T11:40:00.002+01:00

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

2009-05-13T13:53:00.004+01:00

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

2009-04-21T13:27:00.003+01:00

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.

A busy period

2009-04-03T14:47:00.002+01:00

Everyone I seem to talk to through work is busy at present. Is this a by-product of the recession for those of us in business? I think so. It seems that we are all having to work harder and smarter for the same return or in some instances even less.
Sixteen years ago when we set up the business (2 April 1993!) we were in a recession and had to work hard to get established. Who says history doesn't repeat itself?

The tender mystery

2009-03-24T14:47:00.003Z

One of the 'joys' of running a small business is tendering for work. We continually scan for work opportunities through various tendering websites and occasionally go for it when the brief is appropriate for us. The tender jargon trips off the tongue. PQQs ITTs are all part of the process. Evidence of minute details of business life are frequently requested. The insurance details of policies that have been in place for over 15 years. The date of your graduation (sometime last century). Getting shortlisted is fine but then the work starts, preparing the tender document. Weekends slip past as full effort goes into the document. Eventually it is off by courier or registered post. Relief. What happens next is often a mystery. Decisions are increasingly being made without seeing the potential client. Can paper alone make it easier for the decision makers?

Late winter break

2009-03-16T15:57:00.004Z

No skiing in France this March for us. A trip in the camper van to Loch Morlich was the late winter destination choice. Heavy snow on the way north closed the road and forced a welcomed overnighter in Blair Atholl. The Cairngorms looked magnificent, capped in snow and reflecting on the loch as we pitched up for 5 nights. Great skiing next day. No queues, fast downhill on the M1 and sunshine. Good food in the restaurant. Had we somehow or other been chairlifted to the Alps? No. The next day warm winds came in to create a rapid thaw. Still, with the sun shining and the mountain bikes off the van the many trails and hikes of the area were discovered. A full moon made the area quite surreal during the calm of the night. Did we miss the annual ski trip? Yes and no. Jake our dog loved his winter break though!

Birmingham International Airport

2009-03-05T18:27:00.003Z

Working in Birmingham with client. A good day. Arrived at airport for the homeward journey with plenty time so a chance to get some food. Not much to choose from and all a bit grubby. When a table for one was asked for in the largest restaurant I was told that there was none available at present and would I go to the bar. The place was empty. My reply to the waitress was a firm but polite no. Further along the concourse, at an even grubbier bar, I ordered a coke and nachos from the menu. The reply came, could I wait 20 minutes as the 'chef' was on his break. The local time was 17.50! I write this at the airport, hungry and bemused. Birmingham International Airport - what a joke.

London City

2009-02-26T10:36:00.005Z

Another trip to London last week for a progress meeting with international client. They have just moved into brand new HQ offices in the city near the famous Gherkin building. It forms part of an office consolidation strategy and reinforcing of their brand whilst presenting a positive and optimistic message to both the 'city' and their clients. Contemporary city centre buldings are fortified with intense security measures that makes our small Edinburgh office even more appealing.

Weekends away

2009-02-17T16:16:00.005Z

We are just back from a long weekend spent with good friends in a most environmentally friendly house located on directly on the shore of Loch Ailort. The house truly makes the most of its setting and was enhanced by the amazing daily sight of a family of three sea otters playing on the rocks, eating fish and swimming past. We resembled a paparazzi of five people clicking on cameras, awing in the privelage of what we were experiencing.

What do you do when a Conference is poor?

2009-02-10T14:13:00.003Z

I rarely go to a Conference these days. They are usually expensive and difficult to gauge what benefits will be gained by attending. The Conference in Glasgow yesterday - "Enterprising Scotland: Challenging Times" was just that. DVD's to replace keynote speakers is not acceptable as are poor presentations and lacklustre peformances. An empty slot "due to snow" is a lame excuse in Scotland in February - especially with no stand in. As usual with these events there is the chance to catch up with colleagues and chums which was good, especially over an acceptable buffet. I now have to decide whether or not to send in my scathing evaluation form!

1% interest rate

2009-02-05T12:09:00.003Z

So, it has just been announced, interest rates are now 1%. Will it make us who are in business spend more or ask for more from the bank? I'm not sure. With uncertainty all around I get the feeling that the smaller business is avoiding risk by holding onto what little cash reserves they have to avoid the vagaries of dealing with banking sector. Everyone in business I talk to has a negative tale about the banks at present. Getting an overdraft is anything but straight forward and the charges and securities involved out of touch with reality. A reduction in bank rate is one thing, a drastic change in the banks operational practices and attutde is another.

Beware of speedy banking

2009-01-29T10:00:00.001Z

With online banking we manage our accounts, pay bills and transfer money throughout the working day. We welcomed the changes last year that meant we could transfer money between accounts in hours as opposed to days. Imagine the language in the office when our 'bailed out bank' slipped into the statement a charge of £0.45 for every speedy banking transfer. No doubt in the small print somewhere this was stated but they certainly did not make it obvious. Another example of certain banks milking the small business.

London Day - 22 Janaury

2009-01-27T15:06:00.000Z

Another busy day working in London. The 06.20 flight to Stansted doen't get any easier but this one was on time and arrived early - joy! This is the first full day with this year's intake of Graduates and I am looking forward to it. A smaller number recruited this year refelcting the trading situation. We have a full training programme today looking at Proposal and Report Wrting as well as Time and Priority Management. A lot to cover but with a talented group it goes smoothly! We wind up around 17.00 and I have a quick walk around Regent Street before starting the trail homeward. Easyjet leave early and arrive early - yahoo! Home at 22.15 to a welcomed glass of wine.

Welcome

2009-01-26T21:45:00.000Z

I've joined the ranks of bloggers and will post the occasional random, thought, activity or recommendation that may or may not be of interest!