30/04/2009 by admin.

There is a new Facebook group limited to Research Network members. So far only a few old faithfuls have joined but we are hoping for many more. We shall see whether those not interested in (or incapable of) using our own networking site will use Facebook - assuming the many members who are also Facebook members join. Perhaps people of a certain age don’t network online though the modal age of members is only about 67! That seems young to me and I have been networking online for many more years than I care to remember - it only takes a few minutes each day to keep in touch if you have something to say and are a reasonably quick typist. Ah - maybe that’s the answer. I remember when we were trying to encourage a certain MD to use a PC - back in the late 1980s - and his excuse for not doing so was that he ” couldn’t type and didn’t want to learn”. Now as a junior back in the early 1950s I was not allocated a secretary and since using the typing pool meant running the gauntlet of the dragon of a typing pool supervisor, who always put juniors at the back of the queue, I got used to typing my own reports on an office portable that I managed to acquire. I was therefore used to typing at a fair speed early on in my career.

Maybe there’s a renewed demand for Mavis Beacon to rescue the “can’t type won’t type” brigade!

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29/04/2009 by admin.

Lovely phrase on the BBC4 Today programme this morning. An Iraqui bystander asked to describe British efforts to rebuild a fish market said “no good”; when pressed he replied “very no good”. Very no good is an apt phrase to remember . It could be applied to so many things happening at the moment though not, today, to the stock market which appears to be not very no good at present. Could it be that the sun is shining into all those dealing rooms?

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28/04/2009 by admin.

Well I said I wouldn’t write about politics here didn’t I? But I do somewhere else. So far no one has asked for the URL of my political blog. Maybe, God forbid, that’s because Network members aren’t interested in politics any longer. Strange because I know at least one member who, unlike me, has a strong party-political allegiance But perhaps you think that people shouldn’t discuss politics, sex or religion online? Well I think they should discuss them all but I promise not to mention politics again in this particular place though I do reserve the right to mention one or both of the other two when they are relevant to my daily thoughts! (see Easter Day).

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27/04/2009 by admin.

Well it’s turning out to be what with ever-changing , but mainly pessimistic, views about the depth and length of the recession and now swine fever! And today we have even got the rain. Ah well … put on the central heating again and settle down to a good book.

 Still have the weekend to think about when we attended the most lavish wedding for years. A civil ceremony but conducted with great dignity in a most lovely setting in the Sussex countryside. What a difference it has made to be able to have weddings celebrated in lovely venues; although registry offices have made great efforts to be pleasant they obviously can’t quite match the stately home and other venues now available.

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24/04/2009 by admin.

Doing some rather hurried shopping in the town centre mall today it struck me that, in this reasonably-prosperous Surrey town anyway, the economic downturn is not much in evidence yet on the High Street. This was confirmed nationally when figures were released this morning showing a slight increase in retail sales. Are people shopping to cheer themselves up instead of spending money on things like holidays? Or are they getting more and more into debt? Someone needs to do a proper analysis.

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23/04/2009 by admin.

• At last we have a Facebook Group for the Network. No URL included since it is limited to members of the Research Network whereas this is a public site with many registered contributors but few who regularly comment! If you are accessing this from the Facebook Research Network Group Page:
• 1. Why haven’t you been here before for crying out  loud!
• 2. Please feel free to comment on any post. It’s easy to do this. You just click No Comments and you will get a pro forma where you can type in your comment. You will be asked for your name and email address. The latter will not be published and the former can be an alias. I approve all comments just to make sure (because it is a public site) that nothing naughty gets through. Thus there will be a slight lag between your posting and the post appearing on the blog
• 3. If all this hasn’t daunted you welcome and get commenting.

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21/04/2009 by admin.

Delightful day. Lovely company, lovely lunch. And I walked home through the park and, for almost the first time this year, felt really warm. What a joy our Network get-togethers are. Long may we continue to enjoy them. The old song comes to mind “Strolling round the town, happy as can be, all good friends and jolly fine company”. OK I know you’re not all as old as I am and maybe some of you are not familiar with Victorian music hall songs. I must point out that neither am I , first hand, but my dad used to sing them to me.

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19/04/2009 by admin.

Loath to dilate on my own peculiar  political opinions here I have started another frankly political blog - let me know anyone out there if you would like the URL. It is certainly getting much more comment than this one! Here I want to talk primarily  to members of the  Network,  but no-one, except Jane - and lately Joe, who is only an honorary member - seems to want to talk to me.

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16/04/2009 by admin.

A wonderful birthday except I wished for some sun. Lovely cards and presents and much jollity. I am hastily writing blogs and looking at email including one most welcome and ingenious e-card.

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14/04/2009 by admin.

I have decided that this blog was getting too political . I have, therefore, decided to start a new, more political, blog elsewhere. When this is set up ( a few more days yet) I will give the URL to anyone interested and try not to post directly political remarks here. Tempting as it is, therefore, to comment more on “those emails” I will desist.

We were due to have a big family lunch yesterday but, since one family member was ill we had regrettably to call it off. To make up for it we did have a very pleasant visit from our grandson and granddaughter with girlfriend and boyfriend and despatched them , happily, to a restaurant meal. No reservations about who would drive since they are all very careful about drinking and driving. Most commendable when I think back to when we were nearer their age.

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