Teams will often go through 4 distinct phases-

Forming – The group is put together each with different skills, knowledge, aptitude and experience.

Storming – A lot of conflict arises due to the group members individual differences and opinions.

Norming – Individual differences become ‘normalised’ and accepted within the group.

Performing – The group starts effectively woking towards the common goal. Recognising individuals differing skills as positive and actively utilising those differences to achieve the end goal.

It doesn’t matter what the task is, its group dynamics that great leaders understand.

I live in his constituancy, and as always with these things I think there is more to this case than meets the eye.

A bit of backround:
This mainly rural area of Lancashire is currently being bombarded with planning applications from large developers and the vast majority of the local people are against these developments (not just NIMBYism we’re talking 500 – 1000 houses at a time, thus doubling the size of some villages). However the large developers have far larger resource at their disposal (legal teams etc) than the local parochial conservative council (who will want to be seen to be towing the party line re; house building). Consequently these planning applications are being given the go ahead. Causing local uproar.

Enter into the equation Nigel Evans. Local MP who, as deputy speaker must remain impartial and is not allowed to bring up constituancy issues in parliament. Under pressure from local constituents (who wanted their local MP to be fighting their corner), he began to speak out locally against the over development of the area and arranging meetings between groups against the developments and prominent members of the government. This allowed a bit of momentum to be gained

I’m not one for conspiricy theories as a rule, but his trial smacks of somebody/entity wanting him out of the way and I wonder what vested interests were at play?

I live right next to that viaduct globalti, that’s a fantastic photo- taken from the top of ‘Whalley Nab’ if I’m not mistaken?

I’ve got a very similar one on my living room wall. Wonderfull part of the world!

Someone who was far more articulate than me, once said this-

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”

Sums up my feelings on the subject.

A worker/footballer works in the system. A manager/manager works on the system, making changes to the system to continually improve performance.

and

it’s this:

but I think civil cases are prosecuted

There is no prosecution in a civil case.
The evidence in a civil case only has to convince “on the balance of probability”
In a criminal trial the evidence has to be proved “beyond reasonable doubt” – It is a higher burden of proof and as such there are strict rules of what evidence is admissable also because there is a lot more at stake in a criminal trial.

but as a cause of accidents, excess speed accounts for some 7% according to the DoT’s own statistics.

Ah, that old logical fallacy; correlation = causation.

Totally agree with DD & Binners.

Fri was incredible, no trouble, everyone smiling, dancing & hugging!

Four old mates putting any animosity behind them. Takes some bottle to pull something like that off. They deserve their payday.
Ian Brown – magnificent frontman
Mani – Funky as basslines
Reni – what a drummer! best drummer since, well Reni 😀
And considering John Squire supposedly hadn’t picked up a guitar in years…

Just got back… what a gig 8) “see, we’ve still got it”!

although, had a little chuckle at the irony of Ian Brown + 70 odd thousand middle aged blokes singing “the past was yours, but the futures mine. You’re all outta time.” 😆

Yup, going Fri too!
Just dug out my ‘Reni’ hat AKA my raving hat. The amount of fields, clubs, industrial units etc that hat has been passed around doesn’t bear thinking about…*chewing face off* “mmmmm can I wear your hat mate? mmm” , “yeah go on then, as long as a get it back”… I always got it back! albeit a bit sweaty!

Getting just a tad excited now, can’t wait 8)

Loss adjusters will be sent out to wriggle out of/undervalue assets on behalf of the insurance co.s. Whatever is not written off can be sold on… caveat emptor!

What she is doing = criminal
Dispute between you and handyman = civil

Report criminal behaviour to police.
For civil disputes, try and get to a mutualy beneficial agreement, if talks break down, as a last resort, involve legal profession and go to (civil) court.

Do not buckle to totally transparant bullying.

Commiserations Junkyard, have a cup of tea, a couple of paracetamol and an early night. The nightmares will have subsided by next weekend! 😉

Ha ha, nice one!

Phase 1 training – talk about the need for new bikes – complete.
Phase 2 training – keeping quiet about acquisition of new bikes – ongoing! 😆

but there’s no point moaning about how bad it is on the internet before it even exists

Fair point. Just having a general discussion rather than drilling down into the minutiae of the OPs article.

As I said earlier IMO-

Its lowest common denominator thinking, prays on new parents natural insecurities (i.e. I’m I doing right by my child) and IMO is the very worst example of the ‘nanny state’.

Mrs Pollock in her work has to implement many of these ‘initiatives’ on quite a regular basis. Many are useless and achieve very little.

However those who don’t realise that they are parenting badly are not.

Who sits in judgement of what defines ‘bad parenting’. Oh sorry I forgot that’ll be Mumsnet!

I’ve never said that

the plan is to simply issue orders

but these commissioned surveys and research often are incorporated into a ‘national stratagy’ for people like Mrs P to implement in schools, nurserys etc.

FWIW she thinks that its all bobbins as well!

The ‘millennia’ bit was my stab at humour not an addendum to my point!

Yeah but that falls down because many people don’t have good judgement or abilities, and many see fit to do things that are manifestly bad for their kids

In whose opinion?

There’s the difference. I have faith (perhaps naively)? in the ‘good’ of people and think that those with ‘bad intentions’ are in the extreme minority.

I just don’t see the point in telling already stressed, overworked, time poor parents, the blindingly obvious that they ‘should’ spend more time with their children, thereby adding to their insecurities and neuroses.

Yeah, you’re right advice is not the same as ‘being told how to do something’. It’s the willingness of many people to acquiesce to other ‘experts’ opinions that gets me.

It’s societys pathalogical fear of failure that drives this, I feel. It somehow absolves us of responsibility when things go wrong, if others have advised.

I think you (plural) should trust in your own judgement/abilities and raise your children as you see fit. After all people have been doing it for millenia! 😀

I don’t resent the ‘don’t drink and drive’ ads, despite the fact that I never drink and drive

Not the same thing Molgrips, drink driving is an offence contrary to law.

Would you take so kindly to being told how to/when you should/shouldn’t drive from a variety of ‘experts’ whos conflicting advice changes from one year to the next?… you probably wouldn’t mind, but I take exception to that level of intrusion.

Again, rkk01 I agree resources are stretched to breaking point. But this brings me to question – why have the numbers of children with ‘special educational needs’ increased exponentially over the last 15+ years?

Has this generation of children suddenly become more ‘needy’?

I would argue it is the widening of definitions of various conditions that has had the biggest effect on burgeoning numbers of children with these conditions…? That is not to say that there aren’t children who desperately need intervention (as you point out).

Probably thinking more generally about the subject as a whole ransos rather than directly in response to the OP. But when I said

I’m a big beliver in ‘the greatest good for the greatest number’ and allocation of resources to ensure this

explains where I’m comming from, regardless of whether I use various ‘services’ or not.

I’m a big beliver in ‘the greatest good for the greatest number’ and allocation of resources to ensure this.

Not spending ‘millions’ on initiatives that essentially are ‘teaching’ the majority how to suck eggs!

I certainly resent being ‘told’ through various pieces of quasi-legislation how to bring up children/lead my life.

Oh I agree rkk01, Mrs Pollock works for local autority in a dept. that deals with such issues.

The resources required to deal with these kids is substantial – both in terms of disruption in mainstream classes and requirement for places in specialist units.

Perhaps not *every child should be ‘on the autistic spectrum’ (or whatever it is these days) as an excuse for poor concentration/behaviour/spelling/verbal skills/numeracy skills/time keeping/toilet ‘skills’. (delete as appropriate)!

Given this

There is a section of the community who show absolutely no interest in their children, short of sitting them in front of the TV / games console etc and having no interaction with them

Should we be dedicating large public resource to this minority? I certainly resent that taxpayer revenue is spent ‘teaching’ us all how to be ‘good parents’. Its lowest common denominator thinking, prays on new parents natural insecurities (i.e. I’m I doing right by my child) and IMO is the very worst example of the ‘nanny state’.

Sad but true, I was at a training course at work where some people were implying that putting your kid in a position where he/she might potentially hurt themselves could be construed as child abuse

Who are these brain dead people?!… Whoever they are, they seem to have the ear of the authorities.

Wasn’t a detective but got the results… Cracker.

Report to the authorities that you suspect a ‘Rave’ might be taking place. Sections 63/64 of Criminal Justice Act cover these issues I think.

To be honest though, it sounds like exactly the type of event I would very much like to be attending 😆

Appreciate the issues with the little un, but for 1 night… gatecrash and have a top night 😈

Traditionally Quality would suffer so it made sense to retain technical know how and outsource the mass production of less quality critical parts.

However most of the new registrations to ISO9001 Quality Management Standard over the last few years have been companys in the far east. So not only are they able to beat us on cost, they are also able to compete with us on quality.

Find a supplier that is ISO accredited and work very close with them whilst also keeping your cards very close to your chest(you could give them all the knowhow they need to approach your customers- a ready made market- “we can supply you the same as you’ve been getting for half the price”)

Oh, Lasan without a shadow of a doubt. We ate some of the Chef Aktar Islam’s food at a guest chef night at Northcote here in Lancashire… some of the best food I’ve ever had.

He came round the tables afterwards talking to all the diners, seems a very genuine guy with a passion for turning around the stereotypical attitude that Indian food is only eaten after 10 pints of larger.

As above, not your usual Indian!

LOL, keep reading the Sun.

Yup that is why I used the ” marks… to show that it was completely unsubstanciated… then followed up with anacdotal ‘evidence’ (notice those marks again)?

Absolutely, but for every genuine case there will be ‘hundreds’ that are trying it on.

Mother In Law, who is a Physio, with her own private practice is kept busy with a daily influx of them. No interest in getting better, but all in phenominal amounts of pain with “sprained ankles/whiplash”?!

They tend to have a commonality with benefit cheats; that is their propensity to commit fraud!

Yeah, maybe, I don’t know the relevant case law.

It was my first port of call as it would be fairly easy to argue (on balance of probability)that a reasonable person could forsee the risks and thus demonstrates willingness or acceptance of risk.

as OMITN points out is is a very well established area of law.

No doubt the lawyers for CI would have/should have robustly argued Volenti non fit injuria.

I live in the Ribble Valley. Wonderful place to live, rural/semi rural, small market towns and villages. Lots of very good restaurants and pubs.

Biking is very good, as you have got Pendle Hill on one side of the valley and longridge fell on the other. At the top of the valley is Gisburn Forest and its excellent trails.

However as it is a desirable part of Lancashire to live, it can be expensive.

this leads to 4 or 5 different ways to do the same job and leads to a lot of ambiguity

This is where the ‘Standardise’ element of 5S greatly helps. The hardest on to implement is ‘Sustain’ ie ensuring efforts are maintained.

I’ve found that a regular audit of the area that has been 5S’d helps and give a score. This helps focus on what needs to be improved and the score gives a measurable performance metric.

Sort, Sweep, Shine, Standardise, Sustain.

Good methodical way of creating an ordered, efficient, safe working environment. Part of the ‘Lean’ toolbox of management methods.

It is however only one technique/methodology on the road to continuous improvement- it will not ensure improvement used in isolation.

Also, when you have decided on make, model etc. Go into the dealership on the last Sunday of the month. The sales person will be looking to up the months sales figures…and be therefore more amenable to a good deal.

Regarding cash not being as attractive as finance, I would say “If you can do me a good price, then the money will be paid in full and in your bank account by the next morning”. ie play on the idea that its less risk.

Used to live next door to the owner of Clayton Park bakery Cougar and yeah his pies aren’t too bad!

I’m a born Wiganer though, and we know our pies. Forget Hollands, Pukka etc the best pies are Pools pies. Used to be just a bakery and shop in Wigan, but now sell through Tesco, Spar and others (at least in the North West anyway)…mmmmmm pies!

Nu yorican Soul – I am the Black Gold of The Sun

Reminds me of chilled days @ Cafe del Mar Ibiza ( before every Tom, Dick, Dazza & Shazza turned up)! 😉

Dire Straits – Bothers In Arms.

Especially poignant this week as one of my distant relatives was killed in Afghanistan on Monday.

RIP Ryan, much respect…