Archive for the ‘My life & thoughts’ Category
Can you imagine a television programme on life in a cul-de-sac? (3)
November 15th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
A month and a half ago, I did a posting about being contacted by a television production company interested in making a documentary about living in a cul-de-sac. This was a follow up to a posting I did seven years ago! Well, things have moved on. Following my circulation of a flyer about the programme idea to all the […]
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When the going gets tough, then the tough get going (if not now, then soon)
November 14th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Almost two years ago, I was appointed the independent Chair of the Customer Challenge Group at South East Water which supplies drinking water to 2.1 million customers in Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Our prime role is to challenge the construction and composition of the Business Plan for 2015-2020 which the company will be submitting to the regulator Ofwat […]
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If you’re thinking of Christmas presents for children …
November 13th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
… you’re not alone. So am I. I have no connection with this company, but – just a tip – I’ve bought a number of games from The Happy Puzzle Company.
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The future of the Post Office network
November 11th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
For many decades, I have had a deep interest in the future of the Post Office network. For 24 years, I worked for trade unions with members employed by what is now called Post Office Limited (POL) and for six years I sat on the Boards of the consumer bodies on postal matters (Postwatch and […]
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Water bills rising up the political agenda – and dominating my current workload
November 5th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
Today it was announced that the Secretary of State for the Environment has written to all water companies urging them to endeavour to keep bills down in the next Price Review period running from 2015-2020. Interestingly the actual text of the letter is not on the DEFRA web site [see here] but the “Guardian” has published […]
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A day at the museums with Catrin and James
November 3rd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
On Friday, I was able to take my granddaughter Catrin out of nursery for the day to join our young friend Jen and her son James who is just a few months older than Catrin. This is the third time in the last few months that Catrin and James have spent a day together and […]
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Can you imagine a television programme on life in a cul-de-sac? (2)
November 2nd, 2013 by Roger Darlington
A month ago, I did a posting about being contacted by a television production company interested in making a documentary about living in a cul-de-sac. This was a follow up to a posting I did seven years ago! I have subsequently spoken to a researcher for Landmark Films which is the company wanting to put […]
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How my darling granddaughter has already mastered the female art of multi-tasking
October 26th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
“Thank you for buying me this delicious pizza, granddad, but … … can I play my games on your iPad at the same time please?”
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How Christian is Britain today – and do you believe in miracles and angels?
October 18th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
We think of Britain as a Christian country, but a new poll commissioned by the Christian think tank Theos suggests that only 59% identify themselves as Christian. However, many people still have spiritual beliefs. Among the other findings, 8% said they or someone they knew had experienced a miracle, while one in four expressed a belief […]
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Congratulations to Alice Munro on her Nobel Prize
October 10th, 2013 by Roger Darlington
I am delighted by the news that the Canadian author Alice Munro has won the Nobel Prize for Literature, partly because i have enjoyed her writing [see my review of her collection of short stories in “Runaway” here] and partly because it is a celebration of the art of the short story [see my own […]
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