Alex Harries's diary

Do you ever have one of those days when everything's happening so fast it's impossible to take enough mental notes to remember something for later? I've been having one of those days weeks months, and things are showing little sign of slowing down any time in the near future.

This week, I have mainly been updating vast swathes of webpages on UPSU's democracy, get involved and media pages; trying to do some housework in the form of the mass mails, some code changes, and a couple of news articles; attending the UPSU AGM (where was everybody?); trying to convince a stack of people that they *really* need to be a bit more open and honest about a situation which might or might not be building into a bigger situation*; and hearing how another situation which might have become a *really* big situation has been peacefully resolved (until the next time it happens, of course).

Meanwhile, in pixel-land, my notes pages are rapidly filling up with "blog entries I must do" notes, and the UPSU bugs list seems to be getting longer at the same speed my ever-increasing to-do list does now thanks to an upgrade to our database, plus Mike Cooter and Fraggy have just about finished the last ever issue of Pugwash (for this year, of course).

In amongst all this I'm trying to find a flat for next year. I went to see a lovely place today which looks beeyoooteeful. It's a bit small, and my bedroom wouldn't be big enough to kiss a cat in, let alone swing one. There's also a table and chairs which look suspiciously like they've been "acquired" from the Union, but I'll deal with that if and when I move in.

Still, it's all good fun. I worked a total of 32 hours in the first two days of this week, and my arms didn't drop off, so at least what my mum always told me - something about hard work not killing me - wasn't a lie after all. Dread to think how much caffeine and nicotine I took in during that period, though.....

Hope you're all having fun out there, and don't have nightmares :o) 

* I'm considering creating a "Vague News" section for the news section which has no facts whatsoever. I reckon it would be very quickly filled since I seem to talk so much about so little... ;o) 

You know those days where you get comfy on the sofa and just, well, vegetate? I tend to do something similar at work - I just park up at the desk and start working through my Never Ending To Do List (TM). Ok, so it's not as relaxing, but I guess it helps to get things done.

Anyway, today started out with my first SAGA meeting. Not the over-50's holiday and insurance company, but the University's Students' Academic and General Affairs committee, which (according to the Uni website - I'm not claiming to know anything about anything here, naturally...) is the Board of Governors' main way of getting feedback on the matters that are affecting the students of Portsmouth, through the Union's Sabbatical officers.

SAGA also makes sure that the information fed back to them via. the Sabbs is properly listened to and actioned. To save me rambling even more than usual, you can find out more from this page on the interweb.

So why have I been annoying people then? Well, after coming back from SAGA with a long list of Really Important Things That I Must Do Right Now If Not Sooner, I had to go round trying to track down the various bits of information to complete these odd jobs.

Of course, pretty much everyone I asked was also up to their collective eyeballs in their own workloads, so I ended up feeling like I was going in circles and annoying people on the way, so my mantra for the next couple of days is going to have to be "stop being so bloody annoying", otherwise I think I may lose my kneecaps...

Today I have mainly...

• ... been to SAGA and learnt lots of new things (which I then promptly forgot),
• ... played about with exporting the AU Dinner video so we can put it on t'interweb,
• ... PDF'd 160 Union Council motions, amendments, agendas and meeting minutes from 2002 to 2007, ready to build a shiny new archive of Union Council goodness,
• ... bugged people to get the AGM agenda ready to go (it's on its way, and my annoyance tactics aren't helping it go any faster, so I'll try to stop pestering now!),
• ... bugged Jodie Austin for details of the AU Dinner awards (sorry!). They're online now, so panic over,
• ... finally put Elle's tenancy deposit news article online (only a month after I was asked to do it - sorry!),
• ... turned on the new Get Involved template (and I'll be polishing the Get Involved pages over the next few weeks),
• ... done some more bug fixing on the site to repair the RSS feeds after the upgrade to the database broke a few things (again, sorry, and a thankyou to hosting bod Clive Garder for helping fix it!
• ... tidied up the AGM pages and found out where the AGM agendas and minutes are kept so we can build an archive of that, too...
• ... and a load of other really boring, boring things no-one cares about, too.....

...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz /al ;o)

(I wrote this last Friday, but I've only just managed to get this approved by the powers that be, so this entry's a bit late. Sorry!) 

Today's been my first day of doing Sabb-like things, although at the moment I think most, if not all of the incoming Sabbs are feeling a bit disconnected from reality as the reality of the position's responsibilities probably haven't quite kicked in just yet. It'll come with time though, I'm sure.

As part of our (gentle, at the moment) introduction, we sat in on the Board of Trustees' meeting today with the University Chaplain, Peter Jones, the Union's accountant bod, the current Sabb team, the two student trustees, Rena Ellis (the Union's Chief Exec), Jo Bower (Rena's secretary), and Tracey Anderson (the Financial Controller, aka Big Chief Bean-counter).

As a Trustee of the Union charity, it's each person's responsibility to run the business - much like a company director - in the spirit of the business. Because it's a charity, this means we have to make sure the Union is working towards its aims, which are basically to provide a range of support and opportunities for students (it's a lot more detailed than that, but I can't remember the aims, and since it's just gone 3am and I have an episode of Lost to watch, I'm sure you won't mind that I won't be looking them up just now...).

While the contents of the meeting aren't something I can discuss (on pain of death, so I'm told), Yorkie's Lux proposal got a mention and I have to admit I'm hoping that it will mature into a committed dialogue between the Union and the University to make the most of the Union's "fridge-with-a-light-on".

Personally, I suspect (ok, I hope) it might not take a lot more than some good "artist's impressions", and a well-thought-out assessment of what can be achieved for the money, to provide the University with a workable plan to create a truly multi-purpose venue. I don't think that our pedigree sound system and lighting rig (possibly the best in Pompey) should be the only highlights of the venue I can think of. Time, and a lot of work, will tell...

This evening, I attended the Pure:FM AGM. Blessed with possibly the largest committee in the world, the voting side of things took up most of the event's two-hours, with an awards ceremony - which ranged from the silly ("Worst mispronunciation of a performer's name" award) to the coveted ("Best show" award) - providing some expected and not-so-expected-but-still-rather-nice results for the night.

I can't remember everyone who was elected, so instead of upsetting any more Pure members than I already have tonight, I'll just say I am genuinely looking forward to working with them all next year. Pure can look forward to a strongly-led, experienced group of people with a wide range of talents, skills and knowledge running their show, and - but don't tell anyone - I've almost got the warm fuzzies about what I think they'll achieve if they keep the hard work up.

That's not to say I don't for a second doubt they will do their best to make my life a living hell, because I wouldn't have it any other way, and no doubt they will soon become sick of me thinking I know more about radio than I do - truth be told I would probably have difficulty identifying the business end of a microphone without some help... ;o), but I do hope that whatever happens, the next 15 months give Pure:FM plenty more achievements to be proud of, starting with the Societies' Carnival on May 11th (make sure you go - it's going to be great!!).

Ooh, one last ...