finger in all the pies

Time Management for Property Managers

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 17:49:00 +0000

I am now an ex Residential Property Manager

I've had a lot of thoughts about property management but decided to keep my powder dry but maybe now is the time to let my thoughts out.

So occasionally I reflected on how could I better organise myself and my work.

As a Property Manager we have so many people trying to get our time

residents

owners

site staff

existing contractors

new contractors

directors

freeholders

all of the above multiplied by all the buildings we look after

on top of this there are

accounts staff

legal enquiries

other PM colleagues

and of course our bosses - why haven’t you answered every email and got all your budgets and accounts out on time!

The answer, the perfect system…

…sadly doesn’t exist but I wonder if any system exists?

If we think of all the wasted time in just one company because no one is thinking about the best way to organise and the systems needed and pretty much leaving it to each individual PM to sink or swim.

It reminds me of previous companies I have worked in and particularly banks where they come across as very professional and organised but every back office I ever work in was so chaotic and unproductive.

Generally people are not lazy but we are wasteful because we are doing our best.

Good management looks at the resources and the work and manages them with tools and systems - they need to understand, measure, manage and then improve.

Most management I have encountered starts at managing and pays lip service to the rest.

Thus the cycle of poor time management coninues...

Change

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 00:32:00 +0000

It strikes me one of the few constants in life is change.
Change can be small and imperceptible maybe all that changed today is you got a year older.
Change can be huge maybe you just made a lifetime commitment to something or somebody.
Change can be exciting, painful, scary and elicit hundreds of other emotions beside.

The end of the year/beginning of a new one is often the time to reflect on what has changed and what we would like to change in the future.

Home, marriage, work, family - I've seen massive changes in all these areas with much pain, sadness, tears and some joy. Some of the changes in my life will reverberate for many years into the future, some of those reverberations will be painful and some will bring peace. Change in these areas was needed and maybe even inevitable.

I now live in Birchanger village, the sign to the village is pictured above and in the centre of the sign, the centre of the villages title is the word CHANGE. Moving here and everything that has followed change has been at the centre of my life.

So what should we do about change - as it is inevitable one way or another.
It strikes me we either embrace it or try to deny or ignore it.
For too many years I took the later strategy to little effect.
To embrace change is the right answer even if that embracing is just being true to yourself so you know the choices you make are honest ones.
I choose to embrace the changes 2016 will bring.

Spectre - can we have some normal villains please

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 23:17:00 +0000

This is my take on the film Spectre - it is not so much a review more a comment on my feelings and thoughts on the end of what is effectively a four-part story arc in the James Bond films.
** Please be aware there some potential spoilers **

Spectre picks up where Skyfall left off with M and his organisation under review and the 'double 0' program under threat of being closed down. James Bond is on the trail of the people behind Quantum and the other bad guys that came to light in the previous three films. So Spectre is essentially unveiled as the organisation behind all of the activity In Casino Royale Quantum of Solace and Skyfall. So the film brings to the end the story running through those four films.

The film itself Is too long partly because it's got so much story to get in. There are all of the normal elements of a Bond film in there just not as good as previous films and I think the obligatory car chase is possibly the dullest ever in movie history. Both of the baddies - the muscle and the mastermind - are very average. Christoph Waltz is a great character actor but this character suffers from repeating the whole Quantum role and there isn't any real menace.

So whilst it was enjoyable it is not as good as Skyfall, Casino Royale or Quantum of Solace. But it does bring all the stories together and you could very much watch all four films back-to-back.

Having watched it my request and plea is - Can we now have our regular James Bond back please!

James Bond films should be very much standalone with a big bad villain with evil plans that need to be thwarted and then it's all done and dusted. In this series of four films we've effectively had the same villain behind all four films being slowly revealed not just as a single baddie but a shadowy business organisation but the it is actually a global criminal organisation which actually is the mastermind of a boy who grew up with James Bond!

So enough with the running theme of bad guys that were behind everything in the last movie, let just have some baddies to kill and save the world eh James, for England!

Pure Audio Delights

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 08:29:00 +0000

Recently I have started to listen to a real gem of a podcast called Short Cuts

Its own description is "A showcase for delightful and adventurous short documentaries from the UK and abroad". However it is so much more than that.

The power of the spoken word and the genuine stories and challenges of life is so touching.

If you want to be transported to a world away from your own life and its troubles and to be weaved together with an eclectic wonderful company of people who will make you smile and cry and reflect on the wonder of humanity then give it a listen - you will be a better person for it.

My favourite Member of Parliament

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 05:05:00 +0000

I am guessing but I don't think you will have heard the name of my favourite Member of Parliament, but then again do you know the name of your own MP - never mind what he or she does as an MP. Anyway I digress, my favourite MP is Sir Ian Bowler.

Why is he my favourite? It is not because of his views on policy or his ideology, as a staunch right wing conservative he doesn't match my centre-left social leanings. The reason he is my favourite is his willingness to be honest and open about shortcomings and hypocricy that other people in public life or indeed in government policy. Intensely loyal he doesn't attempt to curry favour by snipping or harping on about these failings, simply he doesn't ignore them rather he tells them how they are so we can consider these in light of policies to the contrary.

Never one to shy away from the limelight he regularly 'speaks' to the electorate via youtube and I share a few of his videos here. Enjoy...

Growing Pains

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 08:52:00 +0000

Most of the time we live in our own ordered, secure world and don't ever look at it or ourselves very closely. Often it's not until you have an experience or meet someone that you are forced to confront yourself and how you view the world - how you will respond, act, feel, change...

The last few weeks have seen some major changes in my life which have seen different people, events and experience come into my world in a short space of time.

Maybe no-one could easily handle this much change without being affected in some or many ways I know I can't. But I can't keep hiding within myself and I can't run away.

It just leaves me the option of 'growing up'.

I say growing up because I feel so immature at times. Emotionally immature for certain. Ironically I think I can listen to others, be wise and mature, empathetic and even insightful but in the moments I have to deal with myself I am a mess.

How do you learn to handle emotions, when all you have done in life is to avoid, suppress or nullify them? They say being in touch with your emotions is a good thing, maybe like exercise where it is often a case of 'no pain, no gain'. One blessing in all this is some off the people I have spent time with in the midst of the pain and the strange thing is almost all of their first names begins with the letter A!

Well here's hoping that the pain I'm going through produces emotional muscle for the future challenges ahead.

Random Connections

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 08:17:00 +0000

Scientists tell us that all things are interconnected if only at an atomic level. We are re-cycled beings literally made up of the dust of the stars.

A good few years back there was a challenge called Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon a variation of the concept of the six degrees of separation that we are all connected by some physical connection to every other person. In this case all actors are only six steps away from having worked with the prolific Kevin Bacon.

But maybe more magical than that we humans are connected through the the most abstract and unlikely ways. Chance comments made which lead to concrete actions, difficult situations lead to connection and positive memories unearthed.

Over the past few days I have seen a couple of these connections being made/unearthed in the unlikeliest ways in my life:

The description of a birthday present of a work colleague influences a choice that results in a deep life changing conversation with a close friend.
The hurt and pain of the refugee crisis reflected on and connected with somehow ends with a time of laughter and joy from the reminiscing of school physics lessons with two lovely school friends.

Of course we must have these weird magical connections all the time but don't see them, if we could seem them all for even a few moments I imagine it being like the Auroa Borealis swirling around us everyday taking wisps of connections between us all.

Enjoy the connections folks.

Exposed

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 23:18:00 +0000

Here I am
Open
Unlocked
An open book if you will
So many walk past
Just browsing
Only looking at the title, the headline
Does it make them smile
Is it what they already agree with
No danger, nothing to risk
A kind soul approaches
And I am undone
Nerve-endings touched
Adrenaline flows
Pain and tears
I am exposed
If only for an instant
An instant that seems eternal
Wave upon wave
Emotions that I can't control
I don't want to control
Washing over me
Cleansing me
And then
The moment passes
Normality restored
Life continues
Nothing to see here

Pride

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 23:15:00 +0000

"Pride, what is it good for..." Is pride good for anything other than leading one towards a fall?
definition - Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness.

I wonder how many things I would have done differently or even some things I would have either attempted or steered clear of if it wasn't because my pride got in the way.

There are of course good things to be proud of - family, children, achieving those goals like starting a business from scratch or running a marathon, we can have the right sort of pride in our country, company or community.
definition - Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association.

Without some degree of both personal and corporate pride surely we run the danger of being either self loathing and/or destructive to those around us.

I recently broke through a bit of a pride barrier by doing something that I was sure wouldn't get a positive response and possibly create a very awkward situation but doing it anyway. Happily things worked out but I so very nearly chickened out.

Maybe the most important thing to remember is that in the right measure pride is no bad thing. We should have care enough for ourselves that we can accept as the song goes "I am what I am" whatever that may be.
definition - a sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect.

I am proud of many things I have been involved with over the years - seeing how my two girls have grown into beautiful young women, having the fortune along with some skill and hardwork to have had several careers in a variety of work environments, playing a small part in some big events, supporting some people who needed help at difficult times.

And I am proud to be me.

I hope you are proud to be you because there is no one else like you.

To 5K and beyond...

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 08:00:00 +0000

This weekend I decided* to join in my local ParkRun, a regular 5k (3 mile) run around Hatfield Forest. I used to run sporadically many years ago and have completed one marathon (Loch Ness) and four half marathons (Great North Run) in my time. Regular running has been a hard habit to keep but I need something regular in my life right now and I need to get fit. Apart from my 10 min cycle to the station I am genereally sitting on a train or in a car and then behind a desk - with occasional days walking around a large building or two. I would class my lifestyle as sedentary. But why am I really doing it? Igues there are several reasons:

For the pleasure - yes I actually enjoy running even through the pain
Stopping the middle age spread - my waist measurement is 28" but currently I find a 34" more comfortable! I don't want that to creep upto 36" and beyond
The need to build a healthy habit rather slide into more habits that veer towards the selfish/self distructive end of the spectrum
Gives me time to think - when I get to longer runs I can think and have a conversation with myself
Takes me out of myself and my location

So heres to building a healthy habit and to the beyond it will lead me into. * I didn't actually make it to the 5k, my lift left without me! So I ran 2.5k (1.5 miles) around nearby fields.

Re-booting the blog

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:29:00 +0000

It's been too long since I dared look at this blog and think of re-starting it. I don't even know if all the links will still work, I guess I will have to re-learn it all.

I drew this - S Hunter 2015

But today I have been inspired to try to be creative again by a little interaction with a colleague for whom I produced this masterpiece - it's a 'card' wishing a "Happy Moving Day", as she moves from one office to another.

It is a silly little thing but it's important to me.

I feel able to do silly things again.

This blog is entitled fingerinalthepies, so named because at the time I started it my job and life was summed up by that phrase. I think I am in that place again and able to write about my world as I see it.

Thank you A!

Come on Jesus sort it out

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:48:00 +0000

"One touch from Jesus can change everything."

I do believe this, that indeed Jesus can change any situation in a moment, He is after all God.

However, I have heard the phrase said so many times, often at the end of a preach encouraging people to come forward and have that one touch, that one encounter...

How many of the people who go forward don't get the 'one touch' to change everything, they have to keep on keeping on. Yet the leaders promised a life changing touch, come on Jesus get your finger out!

But did Jesus ever use this language? He talked about the kingdom of God being like a mustard seed, tiny but growing into a massive tree. 2000 years ago there were only a few hundred Christians and now there are maybe 2 billion across the world. That seems like a fully grown mustard tree but not really an example of 'one touch' changing everything.

What about Paul & the other New Testament writers? They seem to use language of the race or the journey, part of that journey is to throw off what hinders, and throwing could be a one time action but it often is a action to be repeated. We also told to put things on but not in the sense of just once but more of a daily uniform like picking up our cross. We are told to be filled and to keep on being filled.

The nine lepers who were healed and didn't return to Jesus, they had their one touch but Jesus didn't think much of them.

Encountering Jesus is wonderful and His touch is always just what we need. However God is always with us, we need to learn to engage with Him in our heart everyday right where we are (I know I so need to be reminded of this).

So instead of waiting to the last five minutes of a special meeting for that 'one touch', take five minutes during everyday (more than once a day if you can) and keep in real touch with God.

Creatively challenged - Does this blog have a future?

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Sun, 26 May 2013 16:58:00 +0000

I guess everybody no matter what they do have periods in their life when they are challenged and have to consider whether to put something away and bring an end to a part of their life.

Over the last couple of months I have been considering whether to continue with my blog.

I have found it difficult not only to find the time and energy to write but also subjects and issues to write about seem to be more elusive. There are lots of stuff I read or hear about that could be a subject to write about but in many areas I feel commenting too much puts me in danger of becoming a hypocrite. Also the breadth of topics that pop up as ideas seems to have narrowed over the last year and I don't want to sound like I am banging on the same drum again and again. Part of this narrowing has been self imposed, having a new job I am reluctant to write about things in this area so early in my career.

Paradoxically at the same time as having less to write about I have lots of new creative ideas in terms of photo studies, thoughts and words, even some video ideas. Frustratingly these creative ideas will take even more time than 'normal' blog posts to put together and would mean putting stuff on new platforms or blogs.

So I am in a place of not really knowing what do with this thing I have created - fingerinallthepies - what do you think?

I would welcome your comments, thoughts and encouragement for the future.

Law or Love?

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:39:00 +0000

http://hmsdexter.deviantart.com

Recently the church both locally and nationally has been vocally campaigning to save marriage. Many churches and individuals signed up to the Coalition for Marriage's campaign to keep traditional marriage for just men and women.

Now I haven't got a problem with the church campaigning in this manner, I personally didn't agree with campaign - it seemed especially sad that their headline statement talked of exclusion and opposition - however I believe it is important for people of faith to promote the values they believe in.

On this matter I am pleased that both the new Archbishop of Canterbury and the new Pope are raising the issue of serving the poor.

I think remembering and serving the poor is central to the mission of the church, much more so than dictating family structures for people within and outside the church. It seems to me one comes from a position of law and another of love.

I hope all the leaders and churches who spoke out against the government change of the marriage status (which the Conservatives included in their election platform with the document Contract for Equalities in May 2010, see page 14) will also speak out against the changes which are affecting the poorest in society at the moment.

I hope the change we are seeing in the church is the reality of love winning over law.

Personal Values

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:34:00 +0000

Awhile back I was reading an article on personal development by Sam Spurlin (he has revamped his sight and removed the article but go check out his site there is some good stuff on it).

One of the key questions it asked was "What are my 3-4 core values" and I guess I've never really thought about this before. I looked through the a suggested list of possible values, all 374 of them! I got down to seven that resonated with me:
Respect, Leadership, Creativity, Appreciation, Amusement, Affection, Acceptance.

After reflecting on these I think I my top four values are:
Creativity, Appreciation, Acceptance & Amusement

Why these four?
Creativity. I have always had a streak of creativity and imagination in me and I have been attracted to things that are different. That spark of the creative in me has always wanted to find a way to express itself. In some ways this blog has given me an outlet.

Appreciation. Being thankful for what you see in others, who they are and what they do - I know I can grow in this and often don't express myself very well but I believe this is something I value. I have even got over my personal struggle of receiving appreciation!

Acceptance. To be accepted and accept others for who they are and not expect any more or less from them. This is something that is effectively tested with every new person I meet!

Amusement. Amusement in all its different forms is something that feeds me. I have to watch that I don't overdo my intake (or output - for the sake of others!) but I have always been one to look on the funny side of things, maybe it is my way of coping with life!

The challenge in Sam Spurlin's article was to look at what I am working on in both work and personal life
that comes out of or is aligned to these values and maybe just as importantly what things I am doing that are not. I know writing this blog has been a real help in working out and working in some of my core life values.
I certainly have had ample opportunity to exercise creativity and part of the self disclosure and sharing of my life that I write about is connected to my desire for acceptance.

I wonder if you were to think of what your personal values are what you would come up with. Why not have a look at the list above and see which chimes with you.

Public Speaking

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:25:00 +0000

Ze Frank is an American online performance artist, composer, humorist and public speaker who produces the most inclusive, touching and engaging monologues along with incredible interactive/interconnecting internet activities. He really is one of a kind. If you haven't checked him out go to either:

His website: a show with zefrank - http://ashow.zefrank.com/ OR his Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/zefrank1?feature=watch

But for all my friend who speak in public or may need to in the future watch this collection of ideas and encouragements on how to speak in public - really listen and you will be better!

Bread and Wine

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:47:00 +0000

Bread and Wine by Kjersti Timenes

When we receive communion at St James' the invitation often used to invite us to take part in this act of worship is...
Come to this table, not because you are strong, but because you are weak; Come, not because any goodness of your own gives you a right to come, But because you need mercy and help; Come, because you love the Lord a little and would like to love him more; Come, not because you are worthy to approach him, But, because he died for sinners; Come, because he loved you and gave himself for you.
I always find this invitation so encouraging and at the same time full of grace and truth.
Encouraging because it draws me to partake no matter how unworthy I feel I am, no matter how far away from God I think I am - the faint echo of truth in my spirit of how I do love the Lord a little is engaged. I step forward to receive the bread and the wine and this in itself is an act to demonstrate that I want to love the Lord more.
It is full of grace and truth because it is honest about the reality that no matter how I feel or how good or bad I have been or indeed anyone else in the room, we are all sinners and none of us is worthy to approach Him, And yet He died for sinners and because He loved me he gave himself up for me.
It is good to be in a church where the sacrament of communion is served regularly (every other week) and as I get older I see the depth of the liturgy, it is not cold and lifeless but rather a pathway that can bring us into a place of the reality of God.

Where have they gone - do we care?

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:23:00 +0000

If you lead a church you need to read this. If you know a church leader you need to send this to them to read.
Why am I being so demanding with this post? Because I feel there is a need for all of us to do what we can to try and stop the ongoing cycle of hurt and abuse that is happening mainly across evangelical churches. I have reproduced the following open letter written by Addie Zierman on her blog here as having shared it as a link on my facebook account many people commented essentially saying that this "hits the nail on the head".
Personally my family and I have been hurt and abandoned but I also know many, many others who have been through the same type of pain. From people who have led churches only to be discarded with paltry a book token for their services through to people who have been ignored for years and eventually get the message and move on and no one notices.
As I said on facebook - you can see why it is 'easier' to hear the prophetic call to growth and enlargement and just wait for Jesus to bring it - but maybe we can't hear (or aren't listening for) is Jesus' saying "remember I talked about the lost sheep..." An Open Letter to the Church: How to Love the Cynics
You should know, first of all, that there’s no quick-fix here. There are not ten steps. There is no program that you can implement, no “Young Adult” class you can start.
This is not about your building or your music or your PowerPoint slides.
There is not a trendy foyer in the world with the power to bring us wandering back.
After all, there’s not much you can say to us that we haven’t already learned in some Sunday School classroom somewhere. We know the Bible stories.
We heard them over and over, year after year until they became part of our blood, part of our bones. We’ve heard a thousand sermons. We recited Scripture on Wednesday nights and earned shiny little jewels for plastic crowns. We know the “right answers.” We know the Ten Commandments and the Fruits of the Spirit and how to “lead someone to Christ” with five Bible verses and a three-minute testimony.
We left quietly at age 14 when we joined the drama club, and it felt more like family than youth group ever did. We left in a huff at age 17, angry and rebellious, slamming the church door behind us. We left at 19 when we gave in to passion in some parked car somewhere – left after a dozen sermons and well-meaning Christian speakers told us that in surrendering our virginity, we had surrendered our worth. That we were broken beyond repair.
We stayed the course for a long time. We led the small groups, sang on the worship team, and you told us that we would change the world for Jesus. And then we went to Christian college, where people looked at us side-eyed and dared us to prove our faith. We turned inward, faded out, faded away.
We left after long hours praying for healing that never came. We left when the Christian Girls and the Mean Girls were the same girls. We disappeared into Depression. We walked out of a funeral service of someone too young, and we never stepped foot in a church again.
We left for a hundred different reasons, none less real or important than the other.
Once, we believed quickly and entirely, our faith in the church people and in God all tangled into each other. We believed that you who loved God would be different, and no one ever confessed that Christians are broken too. We felt the knife-stab of hypocrisy at some point, and it is a wound that never really healed.
So we sit, arms crossed at the edge of it, hypersensitive to your failures and your faults. We have spent the last several years honed in on our bullshit detectors, critical and cautious. We are constantly aware of the darkness: yours and ours. The whole wide world, broken and dying, hurling herself into the abyss.
We hear your bewildered conversations about how so many of us have left the church. You are head-scratching, writing books, trying to pinpoint the problem. You are feeling powerless to stop the mass exodus of a generation.
You are looking at your church bulletin, wracking your brains, trying to figure out what you could offer us to make us come home.
But this is not about a program. We will see right through that flyer you stick in our mailbox. We have been bait-and-switched before, and we’re suspicious. We were raised on a steady of diet of ads and commercials, after all – we know when you’re trying to sell us something.
We need you to fight for us.
We need to be more than a number, an attendance card in the offering plate. A statistic.
We need you to come to where we are.
Come out of the church offices and the Christian bookstores. Turn off the local Christian radio station and hear us.
(Sometimes, I think that’s all it would’ve taken for me. Some church stranger to sit down next to me and just say, How are you really doing? You really ought to join the women’s ministry. Just get plugged in Just How are you doing? Just someone interested in just listening. Just someone to mean it.)
We can see through every trick, and we are not looking to be someone’s success story. This will not be a quick fix; you can’t just slap a little redemption on this mess and call it good.
We need you to sit with us in the mad season for as long as it takes. We need to hear your stories – the messy ones, the hard parts. We need you to tell us the pain of it without skipping ahead to the happy ending.
Maybe we can face our darkness if you are honest about yours.
We are weary and bitter and deeply broken. We can see through everything…
Except for maybe love.
And this probably won’t look like revival. It won’t look like much at all, and we need you to be the one group of people in this whole appearance-driven world who are okay with that.
We need you to measure your success not in results but in faithfulness. In coffee cups and late night phone calls. In glasses of wine and sharp fragments of story.
We need every single one of you. We need you brave in the face of our anger, kind in the midst of our bitterness. We need you every day. We need you here not there.
We are tired and we are cold, and we are looking for a reason to come. Be the reason.
Light a candle. Take our hand, and walk with us.
Remind us what Jesus looks like: arms open, eyes full of love. Help us see him there, sitting with us in the anger, waiting.
Help us. Love us. Join us. And, maybe, we’ll find our way home.

Book to read in 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 13:41:00 +0000

At the beginning of the last two years I have put together a list of books that I plan to read over the year. In 2012 I had a list of 17 books which I thought would be achievable based on my modest reading pace. Alas I once again got sidetracked for a large period of the year. I did read Cloud Atlas - by David Mitchel - absolutely outstanding
Hombre - by Elmore Leonard
American Sphinx the character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J Ellis - fascinating character was Jefferson, brilliant yet with some major flaws
The Dark Night of the Soul - by Gerald D May - very profound, I think I have a reflection written somewhere that I may publish one day
In the Shadow of His Wings - by Jonathan Macy - I can proudly call the author a friend and this is a great book which adds another dimension to our understanding of God, his church and how His care is shown to us.

So what of 2013? Will I set myself a more realistic target? Well my list of books I want to read is listed below and is very similar to my 2012 list, I refuse to be beaten (and quite frankly if I don't read them this year then I should give them away!). In total there are actually 14 this year (down from 17). Also as I am publishing this list in mid February I have already read three books and I am onto my fourth so by the end of February I will have 10 months and 10 books to read - a month a book very achievable.
FICTION
Three Men in a Boat - by Jerome K Jerome - reading now
Tooth & Nail - by Ian Rankin
The ascent of Isaac Steward by - Mike French - the last (?) day of Isaac Steward sees the mental breakdown and rebuilding of a man's life and mental world, shades of Inception's dreams within dreams
The Road - by Cormac McCarthy
Blue Friday - by Mike French - excellent page turner sci-fi book that draws on elements of 1984 and chimes very much with the latest TV series Utopia

HISTORY
Six Centuries of Verse - selected and introduced by Anthony Thwaite
The War of the World – by Niall Ferguson

GROWTH
You Can Change - by Tim Chester
The Road Less Travelled - by M.Scott Peck
The Story From The Book, from Adam to Armageddon - by Ted Miller
Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul - by John Eldredge
The Practice of the Presence of God - by Brother Lawrence
Longing for God - by Richard Foster & Gayle Beebe
How to be a bad Christian (and a better human being) - Dave Tomlinson - I recommend this to any Christian who is a little bored with the church thing, it will help you to ask questions, search out a bigger meaning and be a better person (but people may think you are a 'bad' Christian)

How long

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:09:00 +0000

image http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Lord, how long must I stay in this desert
In this barren land
All around the people cheer and whoop
And hunt for treasure
Stepping over the poor and weak
Do they not see us?
Will you Oh Lord not vindicate your people?
Come and bring justice in this place
Your justice is right and true
Blessing all people near and far
Give us the daily bread we need
Give us the eyes to see this bread
And forgive us when we strive after delicacies
To salve the desires of our eyes
When our soul hungers for the bread of life
My soul longs for the bread
The bread that brings life

Steven Hunter
March 2012

Six Things - Ken Campbell

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:47:00 +0000

Ken Campbell is an American and an Anglophile with a Scottish heritage who moved to the UK when he was 13, growing up and studying in the south east of England.
Now based in Stansted, Essex with his wife, two children and pet dogs he spends his working hours developing medicines for a pharmaceutical company.
Two of his great passions are cycling and playing the guitar in a variety bands (and outfits!).

One thing that's always worth getting out of bed for Cycling. One of the things I enjoy most in life is getting out into some quiet country lanes on my bike. I rediscovered this pleasure a few years ago. I say "rediscovered" as I had forgotten that in my youth I used to really enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike. Then, having not done any cycling at all for around 20 years and inspired by a friend's cycling tales, I started going out regularly with some buddies who were keen cyclists. As well as the typical local 'blasts' around home, we've had some truly amazing adventures cycling through France, Belgium and various bits of the South and East of the UK. Great exercise, great comraderie and a great way to see the world. I'm really glad that I made that rediscovery of something that I had enjoyed in my younger years. One thing about yourself that often obstructs me Oh, there's lots! However, they tend to produce the same result - INACTION. Unfortunately it has taken quite a while to see it with clarity. When I hit 40, it triggered a few years of real reflection. To use a sporting analogy I felt like I was in the dressing room at 'half time' and I was reflecting on the first half 'performance' and thinking about what I need to do to get back out onto the field and play a good second half! I realised in those reflections that there were a number of tendancies in me (procrastination, laziness, disorganisation, fear of doing something in case it is 'wrong', fear of failure, fear of what other people will think, etc.) that had prevented me doing things I should have done or stopped me making more of the opportunities that have been afforded me. The challenge now: play the best second half I can in view of this knowledge! One thing I've learned the hard way Generally, heated argument isn't helpful! I have found the hard way that I am not very good at it and in the end what you gain in 'winning' the argument is usually more than offset by what you lose in the process. One thing that gets under my skin A lack of integrity in individuals or organisations. It wrecks trust and creates an 'image' that is not real. One thing I'd love to change Well, it would be easy to say some very obvious and noble things about things like global conflicts, injustice and poverty and I would love to see those things change for the better. However, everything ultimately comes down to the individual; so what I would love to change is to see every individual treating each other in the way they would wish to be treated. If that was everyone's default option, wouldn't that potentially go a long way to resolving some of those bigger issues? One thing I hope for One of my favourite quotes from the Lord of the Rings is this one: Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.
Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

That's one thing I hope for: whatever happens in the rest of my life, that I make good decisions about how to use the time that I've been given to me.

Six Things is a series of micro-interviews with interesting and creative people
in which they’re asked to respond to a standard set of six prompts.

40 days - what is your response?

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:06:00 +0000

Are you in a wilderness place? Maybe God led you there - he did that for Jesus for 40 days, he did it to the Hebrew nation for 40 years. How long will your wilderness be? Or rather the question maybe, "If you haven't been through the wilderness are you really ready to be fruitful?".

As we approach Lent, a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance and spiritual disciplines, I hope this video will inspire you.

Breaking through

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:06:00 +0000

image from http://www.rgbstock.com/

I see you
Making a slide
From heaven to earth You normally hide in plain sight In the bright sun The reflective moon The headlights and torches I click a switch and you are everywhere but nowhere and click it again and you disappear But I see you today Sneeking through the clouds Having your fun On that earth bound slide

Steven Hunter,
January 2012

My paralympics shame

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:20:00 +0000

Last summer I had the privilege of serving at the Paralympic games, big shout out for my employer Hurford Salvi Carr for giving me the time off.

It was a great two weeks which gave me experiences that I will unlikely get again, gave me a chance to be part of possibly the greatest event ever to be held in the UK. I met loads of really great people, including starting a great friendship with a guy I met on the first day who it turns out shares the same birthday as me!

But there is an aspect of the Paralympics that makes me ashamed. It was something I carried everyday on my ID badge or rather on my ID badge strap, in big capital words ATOS.

ATOS are company employed by the government to carry out work assessments to see if people are able to work and if they are they will then have their benefits removed. Now if someone is capable of working then I am all for a system that encourages them to do so. But if a person can't work because they can barely work, they suffer from a debilitating mental illness, they are suffering from a crippling illness or maybe they are in a coma* then I think this should mean they should continue to be supported through the benefit system. Unfortunately ATOS driven by the government targets and values did just that including writing to a man in a coma to tell him as he hadn't attended his work assessment his benefit would be stopped and they assumed he was fit for work

For a few more angles on this scandal read these links - just four of literally thousands
http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/personal-finance/esa-cuts-governments-disability-assessment-1346639
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/atos-scandal-benefits-bosses-admit-1344278
http://samedifference1.com/2012/09/22/how-many-more-liam-barkers-will-there-be/
http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/compassionate-fascist-conservatism.html?spref=tw

It is hard to think of a more inappropriate sponsor of the Paralympics and I had to carry their name around me at all times!

The only thing more inappropriate was the decision to invite George Osbourne to be part of the awards ceremony, thankfully that was something that provided an opportunity for the feelings of the nation to be shared in public and for a brief moment the reality of what the people think of the govt and these sort of policies was seen.

Even with these unfortunate connections it truly was the greatest show on earth and I can say I was there.

Seventy Eight Days later...

noreply@blogger.com (Steven Hunter) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 21:50:00 +0000

... 78 days since I sat in front of this computer, considering what I could write on my blog.
So what has been going on over the last 2-3 months? In a word, WORK, full on, overwhelming, challenging, stretching, working late almost everyday.
On top of that home life has been pretty full on too.
Reviewing my blog I still have 22 posts in draft form and I haven't even being adding new ideas. So creativity is not the issue for me, rather it is the time and space to be able to share my thoughts and ideas.
The one thing I hope for from Christmas is a bit of space to finally be able to gather my thoughts and decide on the future of this blog do I have more to share or not...
I don't know what others may think but I think I may have more to offer.