Matalan Sunday

I would probably do more entries in here, but my proper computer's version of Microsoft ME has developed a fault so I can't send any messages from it to the internet. It'll let me do e-mail now, but every time I try to log in to LJ, Explorer falls over. I really, really hate Bill Gates, as anyone who knows me is well aware. If new computers came with a copy of the operating system, I could have reinstalled. But no. And upgrading to 2000 would be a major task because I'd have to track down and download the drivers for all the peripherals.

So, I can only update if I wind up the laptop, which ought to happen more often now I've started the PhD since I need to log on to the University 'blackboard' and download a bunch of reading.

Except ... these 2 weeks are about as hectic as it gets. I have meetings every day, a 2-day trip to Belfast for the ACPO Youth Conference (more a case of seeing and being seen than anything else) and a Workforce Day organised with 60 people signed up and the presentations not even written yet. Oh yes, and a special education needs conference in Brighton I was asked to do a workshop at, which I haven't written yet, either. I sure hope I can wing it on the day.

So, this week starts at 8:30 at Bicester Nick, meeting the schools officer who's coming to the SEN conference with me to discuss a plan of attack. Then in to the office for a team meeting, and the rest of the day to (a) work on presentations and (b) reread the paper on YOTS I wrote a month back before ...

Tuesday, 8:30, BCU Commanders' meeting, discuss said paper. Oh, and find out if they want me to look for some money to fund Local Safeguarding Children Boards.

Wednesday, a slightly later start, phew, 10:00 at Bicester Mags Court for the Local Criminal Justice Board sub-group on youth, but after which ... straight to Brum airport to catch the plane to Belfast ...

And back in time for the weekend ... which I suspect I will have to spend working or I won't be ready for the following week!!

So, PhD ...? Other than the shape of it developing in my head, not a lot of work.

For anyone who's interested, the week at Luton was a bit of a roller-coaster. I arrived feeling quite smug, having got an e-mail from the Chief agreeing a piece of work I'd done, and another from the Chair of the Police Authority inviting me to a meeting. Concluded very quickly I was the least intelligent and worst read person present, and then some - there are six of us currently on the course, although there seemed to be some question about that (others may join us), five of us are female which I found a little surprising. Two YOT Managers, both very erudite and experienced, and a number of other equally busy, intelligent people. And me. Oh well ... I've only paid for the first year, so if I fail to produce anything workable I've only lost £3,000 and at least I'll know I've tried. At any rate I got very good at navigating the various one-way systems in Luton, and could find my way straight to the car park nearest the University and straight out again at the end of the day, and I even found a pleasant cross-country route that cut out a lot of potential traffic jams.

In other news, Men & Motors look to be stopping showing Miami Vice at ep 85 or thereabouts, very irritating when I wanted a decent copy of Jeff's ep. His 'She Spies' ep however should come up week after next, however I'll be in Brighton ... although I'm sure Phoebesmum will tape it for me, even though it clashes with Veronica Mars.

That's it for now, gotta go shopping!