A change of title and some design notes (with grateful thanks to Frank Little)

I changed the name of my blog a few years back. It was, I admit, an attempt to escape my past and cut a new trail, some distance away from my reputation as a faceless bureaucrat. It also reflected my new status as a rather unexpected member of the country gentry.

And no, I haven't moved - I am presently sitting in our designed for purpose office across the patio from our home in the country - but it is perhaps a recognition that I am, at heart, also a bureaucrat... and proud. I think. Actually, yes, proud. Admittedly, due to management policy, I'm not allowed to tell you where I'm proud to be a bureaucrat professionally, but you get the picture (and I did sign the Official Secrets Act, after all).

I have also experienced a bit of a rebirth as a bureaucrat within the Party. I'm not a campaigner, but I am good at freeing up other people who want to do it, and are better at it than I am. I have plans, put it this way...

And so, I have reverted to the original title of this blog. Oh yes, I'll write about Creeting St Peter and the joys of rural life from time to time, and have a gentle kvetch about politics and whatever else comes to mind, but it is time to be a little more comfortable with who I am.

Talking of comfort, readers might have noticed that I changed the design of the blog too yesterday. I wasn't happy with it, but had run out of time to address the remaining issues, so saved what I had done so far. This morning, Frank Little, who has flown the flag for liberalism in one of the country's less fruitful areas (Neath Port Talbot) for many years, kindly advised that the new design wasn't working for him.

And so, I've changed it, making it rather easier on the eye, I hope. If you read this, Frank, do let me know what you think.

For the rest of you, do drop in on his blog, "ffranc sais". I do from time to time, and am always given something to dwell upon...

A crash course in design... with thanks to ALDC...

I have to admit that campaigning for real has involved learning a lot of new skills. As a paper candidate, you aren't expected to deliver anything in your own patch and, if you do, it is generic in nature. However, as the leaflet designer for the Stowupland campaign team, I've had to master PagePlus, learn to write succinctly - not an easy thing to do when you're a bureaucrat - and match pictures with prose.

It's also got to be done quickly too, even more so as the campaign reaches a crescendo. I prefer to e-mail my leaflet to my printer, so that he can print it and post it back to me, rather than have to collect it from somewhere (time lost), or bother someone who is also trying to campaign themselves. So I have to fit into his schedule, and leave enough time for him to get the job done.

Luckily, ALDC produce a cornucopia of amazing artwork which I can simply pick up and drop, or adapt as I see fit. Indeed, one of their templates has been a rich source of ideas this evening, and my next leaflet is about 50% done in just two hours. And, as Ros and I are both members, it's remarkably good value too.

Meanwhile, my fellow colleagues on the Mid Suffolk campaign team are working on more material for me to work with. I rely on their experience, and that of Ros, to allow me to avoid some of the more obvious errors, and to ensure that I 'sing from the same hymnsheet', incredibly important in our local messaging.

Over the next six weeks or so, I'll be fighting my first campaign where I'm the person trying to get elected. Yes, I'm a bit nervous, but I'm keen to give it my best shot, and I'll try to find time to report back on a gentler, more personal brand of politics than I was used to in London.

Wish me luck!

I coulda been a contender - Part III

At least I've amused Susanne. I got over-enthusiastic and changed my template, thus removing all of my changes and removing all of my personalisations, ha, ha, ha...

So, I've redesigned the links section, and for those of you who have been namechecked, if you have any fundamental objections to your tagline, please don't hesitate to let me know...

I coulda been a contender - Part II

The telephone rings, and it's Susanne, noting that my links column is a bit untidy. A quick tutorial later, and it looks pristine...

Thanks, Susanne!