Merthyr Boy

Summer fruit pudding.....

Enjoying a weekend away with the team. Great weather and great company. Looking forward to a few sociable beers and some well earned grub.

However my family are 100 miles away. I often find that when I'm away from the family for times other than work it is always  harder to manage the feelings. Missing them is not fun.

However its only for today. tomorrow is not long away and Erin is going to make me a summer fruit pudding. Hmmmm

I WAS THERE!

A simply awesome night.
The BBC need us to stand up to the mark and make sure the show carried on.

Its a tough life but someone has to do it
Late with Jules Holland

The line up.......
Dave Gilmore
Elvis Costello
Paul Simon

Stolen! and the power of the net

The net has many wonderful aspects. one of these is its ability to speak to the world as if it were a small community.

Take for instance the terrible news we heard today about our friends in the western beacons Caver rescue team. they had there land rover stolen today. and now many of the teams friends are  using the net to raise the profile of the team and its loss.

one up for the good guys!!!!
http://taffyboy.livejournal.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/miwalker/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aledt/

AND>>>>>>>>>>>
our friends in the BBC picked it up
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4985322.stm

man management

I've been thinking a lot about management in the last few days.
In work I have a relatively new team working for me. I've been thinking about the process of my work load, what am I there for? IE what is my day job?

I've started to come to the conclusion that about 70% of my role is to "Serve" my team. IE to be there for them. This is obviously a reverse in order of priority. I try to ensure the crap is taken away from them so that they can get on with their day job. That means the other 30% of my role is spent upwardly managing and doing my day job? Or is my day job managing/serving those who work for me, or is that I work for them.......

obviously a Friday thought.

Petrol Prices go MAD!

Petrol Prices go MAD!
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.

While walking down to my hotel last night. I saw this. Is it a sign of things to come or just simple profiteering?

This is the life

Now how lucky am I!!
Here I am sat in the garden, laptop on lap. kids playing in the garden, a lovely sunny evening. I'm on line surfing the www.  I LOVE TECHNOLOGY

We are going camping this weekend over to the western beacons. The weather report looks good, the pub is going to be great, good beer, good company.

Its the small things in life

Reading Suzanne's latest blog (Always recommended reading). I remember talking to a very old nun who could barely walk due to arthritis. (Being a good Catholic boy!) She told me that I should always remember it is not the scale of the task that makes it important, its the outcome on your world that is important, even if you perceive it to be small and insignificant. I did not understand it at the time but now looking back on this I think that as long as we put our heart into what we do, the outcome is always worthwhile and will bring benefit to others even if we do not see it at the time.

Potatoes, walks & bridges

My iMac is sick. I took the latest update from mac on friday. Ever since it has not been talking to me. What ever Mr Jobs put in his latest course, it has not sat well on my old iMac's tummy well. (god you can tell I'm a father of two little ones).

So here I am sat with my work's powerbook plugged in as a slave to the Imac painfully slowly copying my directories onto the spare share. It currently says 13,277 file to transfer - about 2.5 hours. ah well (btw - using another laptop to type this up.

We had an exercise today which I organised. I think everyone enjoyed the day. I placed the causality in a valley called Cwm Crew, everyones reaction to this valley is always the same - oh that's a bastard of a walk. Basically its a very narrow glacial valley that takes a lot out of you. Incidentally it is part of a common route used by the SAS for there basic acceptance training. The exercise started at around 09:30 and finished at 16:30. At the end of the exercise we were coming off the hill at Pont y Daf when we came across the new bridge!!!!! over the river. I will reserve comment on the reasons why you would  want to put a foot bridge in such a place, but it does not sit well with me.

All in all a good weekend, managed to plant some potatoes with Erin, took them to Castell Coch  - better know as the fairy castle. Plus a great walk today. What more could a man want on a weekend..........

Editorial control

Organisations can be justifiably scared of what their empolyes may say that may bring it into some sort of disrepute. What is it about me that when I'm told no or "do you think you should" I get the urge to say no I'll do it my way!! We had a discussion this evening about what we should or should not post about or put up picks onto sites like flickr. my response was that while I always think about the context and effect the text may have on the reader I will always feel free to post my thoughts and feelings.  Yes a person may find my humor or candor supprising or offensive. but it is reality, it is how I feel and think. I will never go out of my way to ofend. but this is what blogging is about. It is about a more open conversation, one you can choose not to join in.

lots of MR people help

lots of MR people help
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.

It always amazes me how many people it takes to perform a rescue.
We had a call yesterday to a lady with chest pains. It was a very good call from our point of view - 2hrs from start to finish. However we had over 40 people plus the other emergency services involved. The other added benefit of the trip was a 3 hr wait in A&E for me this morning to be told I've torn some sinuses joining my patella tendon and the mussels around my knee :-<<<

How to avoid Bird Flu

Thanks to Daisy for putting a smile on my face while working!!

interesting thought

Euan talks about love in the work place! No not about clandestine liaisons in the broom cupboard but the genuine affection and respect that produces a much more positive society in the work place. Much more than internal competition or threats from the boss will ever bring.

I find that actually offering your help without restrictions and hidden agenda produces the best long term results. Stating the bloody obvious again then Mark I hear you say. Yes probably but why do we not do it more often. Why do we find it easier to undermine our work companions.  In my job I sit between the business and our supplier. It would be so easy for me to be aggressive and uncompromising when the supplier fails to deliver. However I find it much more enjoyable and rewarding to actually work in a friendly and collaborative way. I find the return in the long term is much more positive and rewarding. Is it love as Euan suggests? I don't think so, but perhaps it is about treating others as you would want them to treat you.

WOW

One Tree Hill?

One Tree Hill?
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.

Dropped Tomos off at his Gran's this morning and popped up Heolgerrig Mountain. The view was breath taking.

I saw this tree stood all by its self. It reminded me of the lyrics to "One Tree Hill" by U2

We turn away to face the cold, enduring chill
As the day begs the night for mercy, love.

A sun so bright it leaves no shadows
Only scars carved into stone on the face of earth.

It reminded me that as ever I'm lucky where I am both physically and metaphorically.

It is so easy to see the bad things in this world. As I was reminded last Sunday by a visiting missionary to our Church. When we here of Africa, images of famine, HIV and war come to mind.  Not the beauty of the Serengeti, Victoria falls or Kilimanjaro. Or the dignity of the tribes who in our western eyes are backward, but if we think about it they are often the lucky ones being so close to each other in real family communities.

Yes living where I do is a privilege. I have the sheer beauty of nature around me and the love of my family and friends.

Having Fun on Fan Fawr

Playing with my camera

Flashing helps saving a life?

There I was driving back from Birmingham airport yesterday afternoon, the pager goes off "Please contact Dyfed Powys Police HQ" Then a few minutes later the pager goes off with a request for the team to respond.

I'm a good 40 minutes away so miss the first response.  When I got to base the Caroline and her dog were waiting for some transport to be taken into the hills so its something for me to do.

The Job is textbook we find them at about 21:30 by the help of their camera flash, cool and feeling sorry for them selves and all are tucked up in bed by 2am.  Peter our Honourable team leader has had a busy day with press calls. There is a lot of interest following the job our friends had in North Wales on Snowden (no comment)

Being out in such bad weather is what MR is all about. We are properly dressed and it is always such a thrill to be in conditions knowing that in normal circumstances you would say we were nutts to be out there. IT IS SOOOO much fun though!!

10th anniversary

H&W ship yard Belfast
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.

Its our 10th wedding anniversary tomorrow. It seems like yesterday that I was sat in my dressing gown watching Spiderman and Chris’s then girlfriend flapping that we had a matter of about 90 mins before the start of the ceremony.
I had a full head of hair then too!

I’m currently sat in the BE lounge in Belfast City airport. Its raining here apparently its snowing back home. I’ve been away from home for 2 days now. I hate it. I find it exceedingly hard to talk to the kids when all I want to do is cuddle them, which is a bit difficult when you are on the other side of the country.

So on Saturday we have a house warming / 10th wedding anniversary party. We have around 50 family and friends coming along. It should be good fun. The move was hard work and stressful. However we had some great help from our friends and family.

I hope the next 10 years are as much fun and bring all of the love and challenges that the last 10 have.

Mathematics

Mathematics From a strictly mathematical viewpoint it goes like this:

What Makes 100%?
What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?
Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?
We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.
Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R- K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%
and
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%
But, A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%
And, B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T 2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%
AND,
look how far ass kissing will take you. A-S-S-K-I-S-S-I-N-G 1+19+19+11+9+19+19+9+14+7 = 118%

So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that, while Hard work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will get you there, it's the Bullshit and Ass kissing that will put you over the top Don't you just Love it!!!

Moving Home!

STRESS!!!!!!

Being a moving home chain virgin I always thought the stories saying moving is one of the most stressful experiences was just a little over the top. I admit to the world - I WAS WRONG!

Here I am sat waiting for my solicitor to call me to say those simple word "You have exchanged". We have been ready to move for over 3 weeks now. our lives have been focused around boxes and explaining to the kids where their toys clothes and books are.

I will not be doing this for a long time.

I hope to move this Friday. I hope to be sat in my new living room on Saturday evening enjoying a glass of wine. well we'll see...........

right back to the waiting..............................

Four things about...........

Four things

Just seen this on Euan's site. Liked it, so copied it!

Four jobs I've had:
Paperboy
Box packer
IT engineer at ford
To many in the Beeb

Four movies I can watch over and over:
Its a wonderful life
Four weddings
Back to the future
The Glen Miller Story

Four places I've liked
Yosemite National Park
Ben Macdui
St Cassi ans
The Quakers

Four Radio shows I love (I changed this from TV)
From Our Correspondent
Late Night Bob Harris
TWIT (ok its a podcast)
Chris Moyles ( Rhian hates it)

Four places I've vacationed:
See four places I have liked

Four of my favourite dishes:
Boiled Ham potato's and parsley sauce
Spag bol
Full breakfast
lunch on top of any mountain

Four sites I visit daily
BBC News
The weather outlook
Flickr
BBC Wales Sport - Rugby

Four places I would rather be right now:
Our new house
Neaudd Ridge
Rugby World cup final (Wales have just won....)
actually very happy where I am

Four bloggers I am tagging:
Euan
Taffy Boy
Susanne
Sunshine

Ok so I can sleep anywhere

Ok so I can sleep anywhere
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.

Long night! we had a call to go to Chepstow to look for a mispa! As you can see I was not the most awake and invigorated bunny at about 01:30 this morning.

Still awake. well at lease my eyes are open...

He turned up safe and well - not where we were looking - bless him!!! but thats what we are there for.

What not to do with........

So after last weekend incident we decided we needed some practise for loading our stretchers into the back of our vehicles.

we also found some very innovative uses for the wheel off the bell stretcher and the seat out of the control vehicle.

Download Video003.3gp

Best blond joke ever.

As Aled says this is great.

Dvorak on CES

Just read this on John Dvorak's blog about his thoghts on this years CES conferance and loved it:

Short and Sweet Wrap-Up

Tablet PC - More Gates yabbering about his pet toy, all talk no action. I was a heavy believer 4 years ago, lost my religion however. Want to worship again, but then this thing called ‘reality’ is out there.

360 - Yeah yeah, whatever. It would help if people could freaking actually BUY them. Money-losing rathole, now with an additional HD-DVD upgrade option needed. The Live strategy will backfire, don’t place all chips on that.

Media Center with DirectTV - Score one. That’s the one smart move. Tho, with Direct TV PVR, umm why do you really need Media Center? And cable companies themselves doing PVR functionality. Media Center too geek toy.

Vista - Umm yeah? Rehash. So? Rehash. Yeah? Oh really, so?

Mobile - What? Bit player, hitching ride on a Palm device, another division forever treading water.

VIIV - Ummm, marketing spazzing up Intel, eh? Never mind that Cell chip.

Portable Media Centers - Oh do be serious. I bet the people that own these are but in the dozens. An iPod this is not.

Future home tech rot - Yeah yeah, maybe if like Gates, rich beyond dreams, and have time to tinker with all this lucid dreaming. Otherwise pay no heed.

HD-TV - Taking credit for the HD? Saying 360 the primary thrust spurring HD adoption? What arrogance. No doubt real consumer electronics companies none too happy with Microsoft pissing in their pools and stealing the credit.

Urge and Starz! - MS-MTV? Content partnerships, the backing of Microsoft means a sure fire death, if going by history. Ironic timing, on the death of MSNBC, they get into content again, songs and movies. Blah. DOA.

Gota get me one of these

So I'll look completely mad. But thats only a perception of someone else's mind. in Marks world I am the master!

Long Day!!

Ystradfellte
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.

This morning I took a widow to see the spot where her husband died back in the summer. She was joined by his walk group and some of her family. It was strange in that she and her family were dressed in nice town clothes. the rest of the walkers were like me in hill gear. He died very quickly from a massive heart attack. No pain. They took some flowers to the spot and then they toasted him with some very nice brandy.  You know when I go (not for about 60 years I hope) I want it to be quick and for all those at my funeral to drink lots and lots of Guinness.

Just as I was parking up the land rover back at the base my pager went off.  A young girl had dislocated her knee (ouch!)  So we had a nice drive down the valley to a village near Newbridge.  A bit of off road driving we manged to within a few hundred feet of her. So the guys walked into her. As you can see in the picture Huw

Deputy Team Leader working hard!!!!
Originally uploaded by Mark Moran.

had a nice walk in with the stretcher.   It was fun having the debrief with the snow coming down.   Oh and I drive a little quickly for some peoples liking. Apparently you are not supposed to overtake a police landrover while driving across a hill top - he was just going a little slowly.....

Mining - A perspective

Following my last post. and reading a few other bloggs like Artistdogboy,  Becca's or Patry's  I've had time this week to think about how lucky I am to work above ground in a safe environment.

Growing up in a mining village I would listen to the old miners stories of hardship and pain of working underground. I would listen to my Auntie Eileen's stories of mining accidents and the effects they had on her husband. I saw my grand father riddled with arthritis, joints broken from years of hard labour in cold wet conditions. But after all of  this pain and hardship they would still talk fondly of the comradeship and genuine care they all had for each other.
I expect its as a direct result of these conditions that they cared so deeply for their fellow worker and neighbour.

So yes I'm lucky to have my comfortable office job but can I say that my fellow worker would put his / her life on the line for me? I do not know? I know my friends in the rescue team hold my life in their hands each time one of us goes over the edge, but that is a positive choice by me to go into those situations where as mining is done for need not want.

Yes mining is hard and and fraught with danger, but the communities that grow up around it are real and we could learn a great deal from those in our detached lives where we rarely know the name of our neighbour.

The pain of a failed mircale.....

My good friend Aled raised a very good point today in his blog. When are the media right to report a "miracle" or should they always wait for confirmation?

Coming from a mining community and growing up after the generation that came after the pain of the the disaster in Aberfan. It reminded me of the family that were told their daughter was alive, only to be told hours later that they had made a mistake!!

I sat in bed this morning listening to the news bulletin - it opened with the wonderful news that the 12 miners had survived and finished minutes later with a change of story. My heart cried for those families.

So the media is on time the villan and other times the nessesary moth piece to cry out failings of man.

Happy New Year

smile its a new year!!!!

Snow

It snowed this evening. We don't get enough of the stuff!!

The team went on standby, for no other reason than if we did not have some people at base to complain about us waisting our time being there. You just know we would end up being stuck at home unable to respond.

SO we had a few hours of sitting around catching up with our Christmas stories.  Insulting each other, - Sam you do not have big thighs!!!!   HONEST!!

Then home for bed before 1am.

nite nite world see you in the morning......