It’s been far to long since I’ve blogged, so apologies, I’ll get back on to it in earnest but…

It’s been far to long since I’ve blogged, so apologies, I’ll get back on to it in earnest but here’s just a little warm up👍….

Wow! It’s been a year in the new job bringing together Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire Councils planning and economic development teams in a shared service… whilst still trying to deliver the business as usual stuff…no mean feat ! Really, really interesting 12 months but huge lessons learned as well. Definitely want to capture some of the enormous challenges we have faced over recent months and that’s a blog on its own…! (And more)

I thought to commemorate the fact that I was a whole year without writing a blog I would change blog provider and start a fresh so I’ve changed from Wordpress (no hard feelings) to Medium just because its everything I do in one place including a lot of of my reading and learning on so I thought that that it would be good way of making best use of time. I’ll try and start and structuring some of my brain dumps a little better going forward and weeknotes a bit more regularly especially on some of the really interesting stuff that’s going on both from a localgov perspective and wider profession bits.

I’ll get into some of the work stuff in future blogs; lots to talk about including shared services implementation, joint local plans, inclusive economic models and service design for policy teams and strategy making (that’s a tricky one!)

In general life the years gone quickly too… Great to have some sunshine again and I’ve got my allotment up and running properly for the first time in three years doing my bit to reduce plastic over the summer and reducing my environmental footprint as feeling very inspired by #ExtinctionRebellion impact in recent weeks. And politics! what is there to say? Too much to talk about but I’m sure I’ll pick up in due course!

I’ve been busy reading and exploring some new books as well as really trying to involve myself in some some practice from colleagues #oneteamgov arena plus trying to think about some of the economic‘s behind what we’re going to do with planning!

What Pods

I’ll try and share some good stuff I’m listening too and reading regularly so two pods of the last month are the weekly economic‘s podcast is great, really enjoyed listening to that and a super series series on neoliberalism! Also the new statesman pod which is been really good and kept me balanced on all the political shenanigans recently!

What Reads

Opportunity for reading has been few and far between while I’ve been flat out working, but really enjoyed my first jonronson book the psychopath test!Awesome author and definitely be on another of his books next! Now halfway through Dan Brown Origin, didn’t do the Vinci code but really enjoying this is a bit of fiction

I’m rubbish with new music but this week I’ve mostly been listening to a bit of old 90s what a surprise…. Hope talks have a happy half term all and I’ll try and pick up in a fortnight with some weeknights of what I’ve been doing during the week….