Weeknotes 1.2019

The new year begins….1–11 Jan

Debbie Blanchard
Web of Weeknotes

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I’m going to make a conscious effort to weeknote more this year. This might end up being fortnightly or month notes, but I’m sure you’d prefer quality over quantity dear reader.

The New Year for me began with a 6am alarm clock. Yes, some of you were still out or just coming in as I was getting up. And that was for one reason — my Grandma’s 100th birthday!! She is an inspiration: 100 and still living on her own. We took up decs, cake, fizz and made sure she had a lovely morning, as our part of the 2 day birthday extravaganza. It was made extra special by a shout out on Radio 2 courtesy of my lovely hubs, and treats from McVities (she worked there when it was Carr’s), Carlisle United and Corrie, courtesy of my brother. Here we are enjoying the day :)

2nd Jan was very much a relaxing day: it’s more stressful than you’d think making a birthday go well. Or at least it is if you have put pressure on yourself for no good reason, which is clearly what I did. Overthinking things was ever my issue, and this was no exception. Still, it worked out well.

3rd and 4th Jan saw me back at my desk in Blackpool. Still a skeleton team for these couple of days until everyone is back with a bang on Monday.

6th Jan: working from home in the morning and travelling to Swansea in the afternoon. Good to have the headspace and get a couple of bits sorted in the morning, and time on the train to keep up to date/also catch up with my reading. I was in Swansea for staff engagement on 7th: they are newly working with us, and I wanted to make sure they’re onboard with our aims and that they’re ready to help with user research. They were so friendly and welcoming, and really ready to get involved! I left to get the train feeling very buoyant and excited for things.

Think it was far too ambitious to then travel back on Tuesday night after a full day in the office. I got in at half nine but couldn’t settle, and so on Wednesday was an absolute zombie. By which I mean I did what I needed to do, but I wasn’t functioning on all cylinders shall we say!

Wednesday was catching up with people after the new year’s break. It is great to see that people are raring to go, and I’m hoping that we can harness the energy. Had a chat with my two delivery managers that I was hoping to do before Christmas, and I think that went ok, but we need to see what results.

In the afternoon we had a full team retro on the conversion work that we have completed. It was really valuable for me to see the team reflect on what we’ve been through, and identify things that we want to change. We have a ways of working session next week, so excited to bring the suggestions to that to agree ways forward.

Much more together on the Thursday, and grateful of that as the afternoon was a challenging session with deliver managers and tech leads on structures moving forwards. I struggle with how much I as PO can argue for or against this, so we will see how it plays out, and iterate as needed.

Friday morning was the dentist and a challenging stakeholder call. I then did some prep for a finding my voice talk I am doing on IWD, reviewing my notes from Digital Voices. This gave me a renewed sense of inspiration and ended my week on a high.

This above all, to thine own self be true

More next time xx

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Dreamers of dreams. Government Product Person. Part of #TeamWeeknotes. Wife. Views and musings all my own.