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James Arthur Cattell

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Social media archive

2026

203 posts, newest first.

Really enjoyable time at #DeliverCon in #Birmingham today. Great to see delivery management colleagues new and old. Lots of AI related discussions, of course, but also a useful cyber response chat, and a cracking "Rant Room" session at the end of the day.
A handwritten flip chart sheet titled "CYBER INCIDENTS + DM role" detailing strategies for incident response and team management. The main key points and sections include: * Header Principles (Green): * Be transparent: What happened + why. * Clear roles + responsibilities: Know when to adapt these. * Keep people protected + focused on the right priorities. * Keep calm: Provide support for those who might have accidentally caused the issue. * Be proactive with your comms. * Key Takeaways & Actions: * Exclamation icon (Black): "The 'lurkers' can be helpful. Deploy them on X, Y, Z tasks." * Practice (Red): "Practice with 'Chaos days' with test situation (ideally once a quarter)". * Role of a DM (Blue & Green): "A DM can facilitate the creation of a plan & ensure lessons learnt are captured (both during the live incident + afterwards)." * Frameworks & Guidance (Green & Blue): "Cynefin framework (chaos) can help" and "Identify which cyber experts can help." * Wellbeing & Management (Red & Blue): "Be firm when people need to stop working, so that they don't burnout." "Recovery is a long game." * Planning (Green): "Try + have mapped it out in preparation for what if a service goes down, where do users go?" * Retro/Reflection (Teal): "RETRO/REFLECTION WHEN THE DANGER/RISK HAS REDUCED." * Self-Care & Resources (Red): * "Resource: 'Hacking Google' on YouTube" * "DMs also need to protect themselves -> give yourself a mental break / Get help + support from your peers"

On Bluesky

The physical #DeliverCon session grid in #Birmingham is filling up nicely and people are deciding which discussion to join for the first session.
A group of people gathered around a grid board labeled with letters A, B, C, and D at an un-conference session. A banner behind them reads "DeliverCon, The annual un-conference for delivery managers around the sector". Sticky notes are arranged under each letter on the board, representing different discussion sessions. Attendees are standing, looking at the board, sipping drinks, and conversing.

On Bluesky

DeliverCon in #Birmingham is go 🚀 Samuel Hoskin and Elodie Short are setting the scene. #DeliverCon
Two presenters stand on a stage next to a DeliverCon banner and a screen displaying a "Housekeeping" presentation slide.

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Thanks Olly 👍🏻

On Bluesky

Q: Do you know of any #public or #community owned conference venues in #Manchester that can host 250 people and have at least 8 breakout rooms, please?

Dates needed are either Saturday 16 or 23 January 2027.

@ukgovcamp.com 2027 ( #ukgc27 ).
A 2x3 grid of six photos from the UKGovcamp 2017 event, showing participants speaking into microphones, organizing sticky notes on a grid board, and celebrating during presentations.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Cracking day with @imhuyorks.bsky.social in #Leeds 🙂
A selfie of two smiling men in an open-plan office or library setting. The man in the foreground on the left is wearing a white button-up shirt patterned with orange foxes, smiling at the camera and making a hand gesture. The man next to him on the right has a dark beard and glasses, wearing a green cap and a white t-shirt while making a peace sign. In the background, there are desks, computer monitors, bookshelves, and another person working on a laptop.

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@themself UoM are on my hit list today 👍🏻

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❓ Science + Industry Museum = Left a message with venue team.

✅ The Midland = Rooms held and viewing booked for 1200 Monday 12 October 2026 https://www.themidlandhotel.co.uk/floorplans.

❓ The University of Manchester = Left a message with venue team.

3/3 #ukgc27

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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❌ Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel = Will be closed for renovation.

❌ RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) = Not available 16 January 2026.

2/3 # ukc27

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❌ Depot Mayfield = Venue is a warehouse (no individual rooms) and doesn't have any natural light.

❌ Friends’ Meeting House = Not available 16 January 2026.

❌ Hyatt Regency Manchester = Not available 16 January 2026, and only has 6 breakout rooms.

❌ Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel = Will be closed for renovation.

❌ RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) = Not available 16 January 2026.

1/2 #ukgc27

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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Exactly 😉
#strictly #scd
#LetJoshBeJosh

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Agreed 👍🏻 I nearly didn't watch this evening cause I was dreading it. But now he's upstairs in the Claudauditorium, I think he's found his unscripted sweet spot 🙂 #strictly #scd

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19 minutes in and he appears doing unscripted stuff with Johannes. This is what he's good at 🙂 #strictly #scd

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Just seen the start of the week 2 results show and Josh is missing. I hate to type this but it feels better without him 😔 Thoughts? #strictly #scd

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...yes 🙂 (good job, not cancelled) #Strictly #SCD

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I think they should swap Josh and Johannes round. Josh is brilliant when he's off script #strictly #scd

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I wonder if he's writing his own material? #Strictly #SCD

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#Strictly needs to let Josh be Josh. #SCD

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He's great when off script 😂 #Strictly #SCD

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The first one's not tech debt, but I'm going to have so much fun doing it. Huzzah for @frameworkcomputer 🎉

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So did I 🙂 I like the content and pace (plus they're 2 of my hero's)

On Bluesky

I'm reading the new, "Government Cyber Profession" website https://cyber-profession.gov.uk/

It provides a central home for information about the Government Cyber Profession, helping colleagues explore cyber careers, profession resources and opportunities across government.

#cyber #security #profession
Screenshot of the Government Cyber Profession website featuring a teal background and white text. At the top, the UK Royal Coat of Arms appears alongside the title "Government Cyber Profession". Below it is a white search bar with a magnifying glass icon, followed by a dropdown labeled "Menu ▼". The main heading reads, "Securing government and public services," with descriptive text beneath stating: "The Government Cyber Profession supports cyber professionals and builds government-wide cyber capability and resilience."

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Correlation or causation?

Politeness (please, thank you etc.) = fewer gun-related deaths.

(Just a random thought as I cycle home).

Where's @timharford.ft.com when you need him?

#MoreOrLess

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Was day dreaming about something similar during my 3pm break. Walked round the Defra Crewe office and saw someone in a hotel conference room presenting to people. Reminded me of all the things I've learnt about how to engage people, bring discussion and collaboration. Thanks for sharing 🙂

On Bluesky

Got a blog post brewing.

Working title is, "C̶r̶e̶a̶t̶e̶, merge or delete".

Feels like a history piece on how my younger self used to love creating stuff; design, build, test.

And now I'm in my '50s, I love to merge and delete stuff, removing waste.

Coming soon...

On Bluesky · Mastodon

I do love it when Google Maps takes me on a weird new cycling route 🚴🏻🌿

Video: A man in a gray t-shirt featuring a graphic of a bear riding a bicycle stands in a grassy countryside field on a sunny day. He speaks to the camera about a route navigation took him on while showing his bicycle parked nearby. He pans the camera around to reveal a wide, scenic view of rolling green hills, tall grass, and a distant skyline under a blue sky, before turning back to himself with a smile.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Today's cycle to station be like...

#TronLegacy.

Video: A futuristic, high-tech vehicle drives at high speed along a brightly lit, neon-blue grid highway toward a glowing sci-fi city skyline under a dark sky.

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Brilliant - thanks @sven 👍🏻🙂

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@mosgaard I also use M365 at my current day job, which is pretty stable in the browser (though the Win11 apps still crash at least once a week, especially Excel).

Q: Do.you have any experience with open source, cloud based alternatives, please?

e.g. NextCloud https://github.com/nextcloud

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@xdej thanks for the pings 🙂

@fabi1cazenave @GLaG_38 @gendarmerie question; other than here, where is everyone organising, please?

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@0a91bf0cdc9f871e65f2ede0570ff9d4fc2cf87b2c8a12ee647f5c2dc53825c0 I love this 🤩

Gonna ask my fellow IT Buddy's at my local community library if we wanna get involved and list ourselves.

Thank you so much for sharing https://endof10.org/ 🙏🏻

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@mosgaard thanks for your reply 🙂

Those user experiences marry up what I've seen in the UK Civil Service.

Although I'm a massive, massive advocate for user centred design, I don't think the users will be the main issue.

It's everyone who has something to lose from losing Microsoft. That's where I suspect the real challenge is. Most people dislike change, right?

BTW, I recently dual booted Zorin OS on my Framework 13 laptop with long time install Fedora Workstation. I'm impressed 👍🏻🙂

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Good point. Only apps the organisation in question currently run are web browser, Libre office and file explorer.

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Thanks @floe and hello @dirkschroedter 👋🏻 Tell me more, please 🙂

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@0a91bf0cdc9f871e65f2ede0570ff9d4fc2cf87b2c8a12ee647f5c2dc53825c0 many thanks for the links 🙂👍🏻

On Mastodon

Looking to speak to anyone who's migrated their organisation from @microsoft.com to #Linux, especially end user devices, please.

#opensource
A studio product photograph on a seamless white background featuring two open laptops side-by-side. On the left is a silver Dell laptop displaying the Windows 11 desktop and File Explorer window. On the right is a dark gray Framework 13 laptop displaying the Fedora Linux desktop with open terminal and browser windows featuring the Fedora logo.

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Q: You type from experience? 🙂

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Will have a look. Thanks Daz 👍🏻

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@janet thanks for your reply 🙂 Q: Fancy a natter next week, please?

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Left London Last Lear, Year! Now in rural Staffordshire and loving it 🙂

Would also consider working for companies who predominantly work with #nonprofits.

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Thanks for everything you do @robbutler.com. I appreciate you 💚

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@Tony_Meredith thanks Tony 👍🏻

On Mastodon

I'm looking to move to the #nonprofit sector.

Any tips?

#job #jobs #career

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Also, she was completely bonkers 🙂 All the best people are ❤️

On Bluesky

Very sad to share that @ukgovcamp.com legend Dr Carla Groom died at home on 9 August 2026, aged 50. Her family and friends are raising money for the Carers Centre Tower Hamlets in her memory https://www.justgiving.com/page/carlagroom

#RIPCarla
A blonde woman speaking into a microphone while holding a large, pink sticky note that reads "Behaviour science for better policies + processes - Carla Groom."

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Maaaaybe? 🙂

On Bluesky

29 June 2017 was the first #OneTeamGov unconference.

Were you there?

How did you feel?

Wanna do it again?

#OneTeamGovAt10 #OTGAT10
An event schedule board for an unconference event, laid out on a large white poster grid with colorful sticky notes detailing different sessions. The vertical axis on the left lists venue room names, each paired with a historical portrait photo and maximum capacity: * Fry (40) * Pankhurst (40) * Butler (35) * Hill (25) * Stopes (20) * Wilberforce (20) The horizontal axis across the top features bright pink section headers showing time slots: * 11:00 – 11:45 * 12:00 – 12:45 * Lunch (spelled out vertically down a central green stripe) * 13:30 – 14:15 * 14:30 – 15:15 * 15:30 – 16:15 Each cell in the grid contains handwritten yellow, green, or orange sticky notes detailing speaker names and pitch topics, such as "Gov Depts: Evolution or Revolution?", "Digital & Policy", "BREXIT", and "Policy as Code".

On Bluesky · Mastodon

#SolarEclipse2026
A close-up photograph of a partial solar eclipse, depicting a smooth, vibrant yellow-orange crescent glowing vividly against a completely black, empty background. A close-up image looking through a dark, circular viewport or portal into an intensely glowing orange-yellow space, similar to the interior of a kiln or furnace. Along the bottom right rim, delicate dark shapes resembling thin twigs or insect-like features are silhouetted against the bright light.

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Alt text = ​A life-sized Dalek model from Doctor Who, flashing colored lights while dancing at an outdoor event at night, surrounded by people dancing, watching, and filming with their phones.

On Bluesky

A dancing Dalek at #emf2026 🙂

Video: A life-sized Dalek model from Doctor Who, flashing colored lights while dancing at an outdoor event at night, surrounded by people dancing, watching, and filming with their phones.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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No, but here's a dancing dalek. #emf2026

Video: Here is the alt text for the video clip: Alt Text: A dynamic tracking shot at an outdoor nighttime event, centering on a metallic bronze-colored Dalek replica positioned on a grassy field. The Dalek stands prominently as its built-in spherical body lights pulse and change color through shades of blue, orange, purple, and bright white, synchronized with upbeat background music. In the middle ground, a group of attendees dances and grooves together under the night sky. The background features event production elements, including a brightly lit stage on the left casting beams of light, a white canopy tent structure, and several rows of empty canvas deckchairs arranged near wooden picnic tables.

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@sam thanks Sam 👍🏻 It'll replace the board / processor in the I.T. Buddy's PC at Cheadle Community Library. The current ones run Linux just fine, but can't manage Windows 11 (which 1 of my fellow buddies wants). Thanks for the donation 🙂

On Mastodon

@phlash @kestral nice 🙂 Go to your local hackspace village for help!

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@kestral YES!! 😍

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Not only is there karaoke at #emf2026, but they have the Pet Shop Boys version of Always On My Mind.

Fan-tas-tic 🙂
Inside a large white event tent decorated with strings of warm fairy lights, a small group is gathered for a karaoke setup. In the center background, a middle-aged man in a blue plaid button-down shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals stands facing a television screen displaying blue lyrics. He holds a microphone up to his mouth as if singing. To the right, a woman sits on a black folding chair facing towards him. She is wearing a red cap, a white top over a red corset-style bodice, black shorts, and bright red knee-high socks. She holds a small blue melodica to her mouth. In the foreground on the left, a woman with long red hair tied up in a green scrunchie sits with her back mostly to the camera, watching the man. She wears a long, patterned green maxi dress and holds a small teal purse. The tent floor is covered in dark gray tiles with scattered bits of straw, and several empty black folding chairs are arranged around the open central space. Large black speakers are positioned on stands to the left and right. A screenshot of a digital karaoke song request interface on a dark blue background. At the top left, the word "KARAOKE" is displayed in a bold, white sans-serif font. The main heading below reads "Request Song," followed by the selected track: "Pet Shop Boys - Always on My Mind." Below the song title is a form field labeled "Singer Name:", which contains the entered text "James Cattell" inside a thin-bordered text box. A small italicized reminder beneath the input field reads: "Please remember EMF is family friendly and this name may be displayed". Further down, the section "Vocal effects?" is accompanied by a small information icon. Below it are two toggle switches, both turned off, labeled "Auto Tune" and "Reverb". In the bottom right corner, a prominent blue button reads "Request Song".

On Bluesky · Mastodon

There's a presenter here at #emf2026 whose pun runs are almost as much utter bullshit at @zaltzcricket.bsky.social's. Incredible.
Here is an alt text description for the image: A man with short dark hair and a beard stands barefoot on a stage, dressed entirely in green. He is wearing a green sleeveless top featuring a large white heart graphic with the text "I [Heart] Excel" printed on it, paired with matching bright green trousers. He is holding a small object in his hands and appears to be speaking or presenting. Behind him is a large projection screen displaying partial text that reads "Electromagnetic" and the year "2026," alongside stylized illustrations of planets and stars. The scene is illuminated by stage lighting, casting shadows behind him, with the silhouettes of audience members visible in the foreground.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Be nice to have a repair station at #emf2028 next to the swap shop so you could take stuff to bits and see if it works. A few tables, some power, maybe a few monitors and necessary cables. I'd be up for helping make it happen. #emf2026
A green computer motherboard sits inside an open cardboard box, viewed from a top-down, slightly angled perspective. Dominating the upper-middle section of the motherboard is a large, metallic CPU heatsink with dense cooling fins. Four copper heat pipe tips protrude from the top of the aluminum block. Attached to the heatsink is a black plastic fan shroud. A bright yellow sticker is affixed to the shroud, featuring a black arrow indicating the direction of airflow; it is labeled "FRONT SIDE" on one end of the arrow and "BACK SIDE" on the other. The motherboard itself is packed with various electronic components, including rows of expansion slots (PCI and PCIe) in black and white near the bottom, silver capacitors, and various input/output ports visible along the left edge. A silver coin-cell CMOS battery sits in the bottom left corner. A small, bright yellow post-it note or sticker is partially visible on the right edge of the board.

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Decimation = Definition

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@pascoda definition! Have corrected the post. Thank you 🙂

On Mastodon

Definition of hacker at #emf2026 by @zweifeln ( https://geronagel.de/bio/ ).

Investigating systems,
finding weak points,
fixing broken things,
Improving systems.
A wide shot inside a large blue event tent where a presenter with light hair and a red shirt stands at a podium on a brightly lit stage. To the right, a large projection screen displays the heading "HACKER" in green text, followed by four bullet points: "investigating systems," "finding weak points," "fixing broken things," and "improving systems." In the foreground, the backs of a seated audience are visible, watching the presentation. Stage lights hang from the ceiling structure above.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Off to Electromagnetic Field 2026 #emf2026
An open trunk of a dark grey hatchback or compact SUV, neatly packed with camping gear. On the left, a green duffel bag wrapped in orange straps, a red bag, and other small gear containers rest on a red mat. In the center, folded camp chairs are tucked behind the gear. On the right stands a large, light mint-green cooler with black latches and a carrying handle. The back seats are visible through the trunk opening, and the vehicle is parked outdoors on an asphalt surface with green foliage in the background.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

I'm having a cracking work week. Just wanted to share. That is all 🙂

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That looks like a #DeliverCon prop 🙂

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I'll be in Brighton again over the 2nd week of May. Happy to trip into London and chat @oneteamgov.bsky.social revival, if you're about?

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When you in London next?

On Bluesky

Q: Jonathan Slater's answer to Civil Service reform at @transformgovtalks.bsky.social this evening?

A: Open up (stop working in secret).

#CivilService #government #reform
A man with short white hair, wearing a shirt, stands in front of a projector screen.

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Q: Does it show that I ate an entire brownie before doing this video 🤦🏻‍♂️ #SugarHigh

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ditto 🙂

On Bluesky

Right! I'm marching over to #Brighton railway station and heading to #London for @transformgovtalks.bsky.social April 2026 session at the Ministry of Justice featuring former permanent secretary Jonathan Slater on Civil Service reform https://luma.com/7nu2j853 (along with 87 fellow peeps).

#excited

Video: Me talking to camera.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Personal standup for Tuesday 21 April 2026 https://youtube.com/shorts/5o5CYMSPUaQ (YouTube Short) featuring:

1️⃣ The Pensions Regulator's Pensions Data and Industry Working Group, plus colleagues Mark.H and Imran Hussain,

2️⃣ #OneTeamGov North in #Manchester and our host the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

#WorkInPublic #Pensions #Innovation #PensionsInnovation
▶ Play video

Link: Personal standup for Tuesday 21 April 2026. #WorkInPublic #OneTeamGov #North #Pensions #Innovation

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I ran out of time to finish the blog post today, but I've made a good start.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Good night #Staffordshire 🌄
A wide, landscape photograph shows a deep blue and orange sky transitioning into a black silhouette of a horizon. In the upper left-hand side, a small crescent moon and a star sit a small distance above each other. Below, along the horizon line, the orange gradient of the sunset silhouettes a tree-lined horizon and a distant town with a few lights. The foreground of the image is completely pitch black. A portrait-oriented photograph captures a serene twilight sky transitioning from a vibrant orange glow at the horizon to a deep, clear blue above. Centered in the upper half of the frame, a thin, bright crescent moon hangs gracefully above a single, sharp point of light, likely a planet or star. Below, the dark silhouette of a tree-lined ridge stretches across the bottom of the image, grounding the ethereal celestial display. A close-up photograph capturing a serene and intimate celestial composition against a deep blue, clear twilight sky. The image focuses tightly on a slender, bright waxing crescent moon positioned in the upper center of the frame, its sharp form and earthshine clearly visible. Below it, at a much closer vertical distance and perfectly aligned, is a single, sharp, bright pinprick of light, identified as the planet Venus. The small, focused point of Venus contrasts with the curved form of the moon above. The deep blue sky fills the surrounding space, emphasizing the closeness and isolation of the two objects. The photograph is clean and has visible grain, typical of a low-light shot. The composition is centered, creating a sense of vertical alignment. All distant horizons or landscape details are absent.

On Bluesky

In the #Facilitate2026 wrap up, facilitator Paul V Kelly asks us to A.C.T. by writing down:
🔴 1 Action and by when,
🟢 1 Commitment (ongoing),
🔵 1 Take away.

Mine are:
🔴 a blog post by 20 April,
🟢 attend IAF #Manchester,
🔵 #facilitation = change 🙂
A photograph taken at the Facilitate 2026 conference in Birmingham shows an end of session wrap-up slide on a projection screen. A list of three items is titled A.C.T.: 1 Action and by when, 1 Commitment (ongoing), 1 Take away. In the bottom left is the circular blue, green and white logo for the International Association of Facilitators (IAF).

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Post #Facilitate2026 day 1 reflection and food in Moseley, #Birmingham at the awesome Damascena https://www.damascena.co.uk

Thanks to the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) England and Wales chapter for filling me with ideas.
A first-person perspective shot of a wooden cafe table at Damascena, set with a Middle Eastern meal and an open journal. The scene conveys a quiet moment of professional reflection and decompression. ​Foreground (The Journal & Tools). ​The Journal: A green-edged notebook lies open in the center. The handwriting reflects on "first principles of facilitation" for a conference called #Facilitate2026 in Birmingham. It lists three core points: 1. Convening space, time & people (SET), 2. Initiating collaboration, and 3) Holding & closing SET. ​Stationery: A black Uni-ball Eye rollerball pen rests on the right. On the left, a black glasses case features a white label that humorously reads "PHOTON CLARIFICATION DEVICE." ​Midground (The Meal). ​Food: A black bowl filled with Tabbouleh (parsley salad) topped with bright red pomegranate seeds and a lemon slice sits in the center. To the right, a black plate holds a toasted flatbread sandwich alongside green olives and pink pickled turnips. ​Drink: A large, matte black teapot sits to the left, paired with a small, empty purple-tinted glass. ​Table Setting: A wooden napkin holder and a table number stand (Number 10) with the "Damascena" logo are visible behind the food. ​Background: ​The interior of the cafe features warm orange walls, a dark wooden floor, and contemporary orange and black seating. The lighting is soft, suggesting a relaxed, indoor environment.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Really hoped to make it all the way to Olayinka Lagunju's 15:40 #Facilitate2026 session, "For those who hold the room" https://padlet.com/IAFFacilitate2026/facilitate2026-conference-bdsah9xb6qjajuho/wish/E1P8aXpnxPOEawA9

...but I'm done. Almost completely done 🫩

Been a busy week of research, design, briefings, facilitation, type-ups, retros and things more challenging.

Will sit in the quiet room for a bit and see if my energy comes back. Wake me up if I snore too much, please 😴
A top-down, slightly angled shot of a wooden coffee table cluttered with various items, set against a backdrop of bean bags. In the foreground, a notebook lies flat, featuring a hand-written white label that reads "International Association of Facilitators (IAF)." Resting on the notebook is a clear plastic **food container** filled with mixed nuts. The center of the table is dominated by a tangled web of **black fairy lights** with small, warm white bulbs glowing. Scattered around the lights are various **fidget toys**, including two "pop-it" balls, a small puzzle cube, and rubber strings. A patterned lanyard and a black pen are also visible near the notebook. The background shows soft, casual seating with bean bags in vibrant patterns, suggesting a creative or relaxed workshop environment.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

My 1st #Facilitate2026 session.

"It's not about you... Overcoming self-doubt as a facilitator" by Natalie Savery.
A woman with shoulder-length dark hair is standing in front of a large digital screen. She is wearing a green, purple, and black patterned blouse and a purple lanyard with a name tag that reads "Natalie Savery." She holds a small black remote in her right hand and is gesturing toward the screen. The screen displays a presentation slide for "Leaderful ACTION." The title of the presentation is "It’s Not About You… Overcoming self-doubt as a facilitator." Below the title, the slide lists: * **Natalie Savery** * **FACILITATE2026** * **17th April 2026** The background of the slide features a large graphic of a tangled purple line inside a yellow circle, suggesting a "scribble" or a complex thought process. At the bottom of the screen, the text "DEVELOPING PASSION" is partially visible. The monitor is a Sharp brand.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Paul Brand from the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) England and Wales, shares tips about #Facilitate026.

#Familar #Unfamiliar #InnerEar
A photograph of a projection screen displaying a presentation slide. The slide includes text about IAF England & Wales and the speaker's conference experiences. In the bottom-left corner is the green and white IAF logo.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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Thanks @owenboswarva.bsky.social 👍🏻 Knew you'd have a useful answer, as ever 🙂 #address #addresses #property #UPRN

@tomski.com hope our borked UK system hasn't caused you additional stress 🤞🏻 and thank you for being open about your frustrations, also, as ever 💚

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Q: Where in the world had similar issues to us, but experimented, iterated and fixed their sh1t, please? #address #addresses #uprn

/cc @owenboswarva.bsky.social

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See you there 🙂

On Bluesky

Looking forward to #Facilitate2026 in #Birmingham tomorrow and Saturday 18 April 2026 🙂

It's my first in-person International Association of Facilitators (IAF) Wales and England event, so I've opted to volunteer (I'm #Autistic, have #ADHD + other challenges, so structure at new things helps, e.g. volunteering).

#accessibility #a11y

Quoting another post

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Personal stand-up for Wednesday 15 April 2026 https://youtube.com/shorts/-LsAMY4nNj8 (YouTube Short) featuring The Pensions Regulator (TPR) colleagues Paul Neville, Anita Hockin, Leanne McHugh, Ellis Hatch, Sarah Meyers, Lisa Allen and Louise Gubbins.

#WorkInPublic #daily #standup #facilitation #pensions #innovation #PensionsInnovation
▶ Play video

On Bluesky · Mastodon

What a ride 🙂

#artemis2
#artemisiII

On Bluesky

No personal stand up today, as I'm looking after me Dad in Brum ( #Birmingham, #England, that is ).

#carer
A close-up photograph features an older man with short, white hair eating Carrot Cake from a small fork at a coffee shop. The man is looking down at the fork and has his mouth slightly open, ready to take a bite cake. He wears a grey zippered hoodie over a light-colored collared shirt and a black vest. A large, teal coffee mug containing a beverage is on a saucer in the foreground on a marble table. Partially visible background details show a restaurant environment with wooden paneling and other people. An enlarged 😋 is covering the face of a stranger in the background, as James didn't have permission to share their likeness. Hope that makes sense?

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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First time hitting over a thousand views for one of my personal stand-ups. Must not let it go to my head. #Ego

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Personal standup for Wednesday 8 April 2026 https://youtube.com/shorts/EzC5GO5tkGg (YouTube Short) featuring The Pensions Regulator's Data & Digital Industry Working Group https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-tpr-does-and-who-we-are/industry-working-groups and my Directors Paul Neville, @lisaallen.bsky.social and Anita Hockin. #PensionsInnovation
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Link: Personal stand up for Wednesday 8 April 2026. #WorkInPublic #daily #standup #pensions #innovation

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Personal stand up for Thursday 2 April 2026 https://youtube.com/shorts/jV6G1Q7ydhU (YouTube Short).

Featuring the Department for Work and Pensions #Manchester office, Imran Hussain, The Pensions Regulator's #Innovation and #Design team + Data & Digital Industry Working Group (https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-tpr-does-and-who-we-are/industry-working-groups), Paul Neville and #Cheadle #Community #Library.
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Poor little Timmy (sorry, couldn't resist 🙂).

#NotSorry.

On Bluesky

If you're in #Manchester on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, come join the in-person One Team Gov North breakfast chat and/or all-day coworking https://luma.com/oneteamgov-north.

#OneTeamGov #PublicSector #coworking

Public sector employees only.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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@antonioacunar.bsky.social saw this and thought of you 🙂

On Bluesky

Walking back to my #Brighton hotel so I can watch @transformgovtalks.bsky.social.

Two men are walking behind me having a conversation.

One of them suddenly says, "Shift the paradigm".

My inner Government Digital Service dogma cringes.

I really need to work on that dogma {SWEAR_WORD}.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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Went and bought the real thing instead.
The cover of the "The Wired World in 2026" magazine annual issue, featuring smart ideas from contributors like Carl Benedikt Frey, Cory Doctorow, and Eric Topol, and covering topics such as technology, politics, health, business, and more. The price is £9.99, and it has 120 pages of expert insights.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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Went and bought the "real thing" instead 📖
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The doom loop I got stuck in (and 45 minutes of my life I wasted) trying to subscribe, being billed twice and trying to contact customer support to get my money back. What a f****** joke. Could do better @wired.com

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Fancy a breakfast time natter with fellow public sector colleagues on current topics of interest?

Then coworking in a Civil Service office?

The @oneteamgov.bsky.social North meetup is monthly on the 3rd Tuesday in #Manchester.

Signup via https://luma.com/oneteamgov-north (public sector employees only).

On Bluesky · Mastodon

ADHD Pathfinding show & tell:

1) Our vision, mission and goals - Himal Mandalia,

2) Service standard workshop playback - Sian Murray Huynh,

3) Post diagnosis support: what good looks like - Ellie Smith-Barratt.

1230 to 1330 Tuesday 24 March 2026.

Sign-up on Luma via https://luma.com/qi9spcfa

The session will also be recorded and shared afterwards.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

I'm listening to, "A new form of pension run-on with John Hamilton Stagecoach Group Pension Scheme trustee chair" by Paul Kitson and Charlotte Moore for EY, via Leanne McHugh. Published 21 January 2026.

Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/re-imagining-pensions-podcast-powered-by-ey/id1870794750

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MhRJTjLROdzZPyi0aclZS

YouTube https://youtu.be/rXhrglJNZuw

#Pensions #PensionsInnovation
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Link: A new form of pension run-on with John Hamilton Stagecoach Group Pension Scheme trustee chair

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Without thinking, I just ending a telephone conversation with, "Alright Duck".

#Staffordshire
#EastMidlands

PS: "Duck": Despite sounding like the bird, it is derived from the Anglo-Saxon term ducas, which was used as a form of respect, similar to "duke".

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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...apparently, once you get a ticket and attend, the trick is to volunteer for something at the event, then you get priority access to next year's tickets.

On Bluesky

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There's 2 more tranches. Good luck!

On Bluesky

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Agreed 🙂

On Bluesky

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Why they increase? 🙂

On Bluesky

On the way home from facilitating an away day.

Started writing 2 lists:
1) things to improve,
2) things to celebrate.

My improve list is 4 times longer than my celebrate list.

Not because I have a negative mindset.

But because I'm good at spotting things to fix.

Right? 🙂
An enthusiastic meme featuring a stick-figure character with wide eyes, a massive open-mouthed, and one arm raised triumphantly. The character has a small blonde tuft of hair, wears a pink shirt, and holds a broom in the other hand. Behind them is a large, jagged yellow explosion or sunburst effect on a white background. Bold, white text with black outlines reads: "LIST ALL THE THINGS."

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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Peer accountability!

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How can I help? 🙂

On Bluesky

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Interesting slides from Linda at @tpximpact.com
Slide title is, "Misaligned incentives". Underneath are 3 bullet points: 1. We're organised in silos. 2. Green book economics culture - need more creative, multidisciplinary impact modelling. 3. Accountability for the risk of not doing market-shaping Slide title is, "Lack of common language & approaches". There are 2 bullet points: 1. DDAT, the service manual and other established norms don't equip policy, technology or delivery people to diagnose complex systems and organise around outcomes. 2. Complexity is hard, but community-driven approaches define successful system shaning.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

This evening's @transformgovtalks.bsky.social talks has started, this evening hosted at @tpximpact.com in #London.
A man in a blazer presents to a seated audience in a modern, industrial-style office. He stands beside a large screen displaying an "Introduction" slide for "TransformGov Talks," next to a matching green banner. The room features exposed concrete ceilings, hanging pendant lights, and a kitchen area in the background. The audience is viewed from behind, seated in leather chairs, listening to the presentation.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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Maybe. I've already done several roles in Cabinet Office, so I've kind of ticked that department off my bucket list.

That typed, I'm always happy to have a chat.

Are you involved in the recruitment, please?

On Bluesky

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Innit, thou? 😯

On Bluesky

The awesome Sam Villis (@stamanfar.bsky.social) hosted the first #OneTeamGov virtual meet-up of 2026 this week.

One of the things we discussed was doing a 10th anniversary #unconference next year in 2027.

Please like and repost if you're interested.
A square graphic rotated slightly clockwise. Inside the square, the text 'ONE TEAM GOV' is stacked in three lines. Both the border and the text use a vibrant color gradient that transitions from bright orange at the top left to deep pink at the bottom right.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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Bored of peace?

On Bluesky

Before my time with The Pensions Regulator is done, I'd love to figure out how I could get paid to organise all the cross-gov things.

Not fussed what combination of people or organisations fund me (public, private, voluntary sector, etc) within reason.

#PublicSector
#community
#events

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Q: Anyone fancy doing a @ukgovcamp.com XL next year, please?

Would be interesting to open the registration this month, then have all year to promote it and see how many people we get.

Would also be awesome to get a sponsored hotel deal so people can arrive the day before.

Thoughts?

#ukgc26

On Bluesky · Mastodon

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I do worry we've gone from 1 echo chamber to an even smaller, less diverse one. Though I don't have the numbers to prove it.

That typed, I cross-post all my stuff to Bluesky, LinkedIn, Mastodon and X. Most resulting engagement then happens on LinkedIn. I barely get anything on X anymore.

#ukgc26

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@kitten_tech no worries 🙂 /cc @ukgovcamp @MrMikeRose

On Mastodon

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Glad you liked 🙂 How was your session?

On Bluesky

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Some of the stickers we made 🙂
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On Mastodon

Thanks to @mikerose.co.uk for helping me run #HopeCamp at @ukgovcamp.com 2026 ( #ukgc26 ) in #Birmingham today.

Look at all the mess we made 🙂
Mike stands in the foreground smiling for the camera, with his thumbs up. Behind him paper, pens and associated mess is strewn everywhere.

On Bluesky · Mastodon

Really looking forward to @bm.wel.by's session at #ukgc26 🙂

You can view details of all sessions via https://UKGovCamp.com/grid
​A man with a beard and glasses stands on a stage in a room with high ceilings and marble pillars. He is talking into a microphone and holding up a blue record card. The screen behind him shows a headshot of another man with the text: “Everyone has a session inside them"

On Bluesky

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Your session will happen at 1345 in room 6 (HMS Daring). #ukgc26

On Bluesky

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Wish I was skiing in the Alps

On Bluesky

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Couple of years ago someone pitched, "What do do when your #localgov goes bust". But sooo many people attended, it was challenging to take part. Intimate it best, in my opinion. #ukgc26

On Bluesky

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innit, thou...

On Bluesky

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Your pitch is perfect as is 🙂

Q: Any idea what time you'll get to #ukgc26, please?

On Bluesky

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@nominally fascinated by the "ban email" pitch :-) Sooo many questions. #ukgc26

On Mastodon

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I'm pitch it for you, if you want? #ukgc26

On Bluesky

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Just been told that. Will wear the marks it left as a badge of honour

On Bluesky

...and we're off 🙂 #ukgc26
Image without a description

On Bluesky

I'm walking to the @ukgovcamp.com 2026 ( #ukgc26 ) venue in #Birmingham and just got shat on by a seagull.

Fuck you bad omens, nothing will keep me away 🙂

On Bluesky

Making stickers for @ukgovcamp.com 2026 in #Birmingham this Saturday.

Thanks to @janethughes.bsky.social for the #HopeCamp idea 🙂

Makes a nice change from #FailCamp...

#ukgc26
A page of hand drawn stickers on the theme of hope.

On Bluesky