Never one to shirk a challenge – looking forward to SEO-ing that title – whack-a-mole or the Colin of the Undead (bizarrely, undead is not in spellchecker) bit?

How many zombies are they offending with that I ask myself…

It’s all down to the to do list.

For anyone unfamiliar with whack-a-mole it’s a fairground attraction where small “creatures” randomly appear through a grid of holes and you have to hit them with a mallet to get them gone.

You hope the life cycle of your list is as follows:

• add to the list
• do it
• cross off the list
• and Bob’s your Uncle (or such non-gender specific version you prefer) and on with your life.

Except

There is always an except, isn’t there?

Either that or I’ve a lot less “stuff” to write about, which would either mean sitting here staring blankly out of the window (physical one, not Microsoft operating system) or I’d actually get some work done on a Thursday afternoon.

Memo to self – when sending revised whatever, actually attach the updated version to your reply.

Sorry, Emily – senior moment there.

What usually happens is:

• mean to add it to list but get distracted and forget due to incoming phone call/email/text,
• remember in the shower or some such useful place where you don’t have access to something to note it down on,
• finally add it to list when PA/staff member/client reminds you,
• run around like headless chicken trying to remember where you put the damned paperwork,
• discover at least one vital piece of information is missing,
• see if you can acquire said info without alerting client that you forgot it,
• discover you can’t and try and delegate the phone call to someone else,
• get said phone call “uplegated” by the person you tried to get to do it (never come across uplegation? I shall explain later),
• discover that the missing info has to be sourced from a third party,
• inevitably from a recycling facility in Ulan Bator where no one understands English,
• realise there’s an incipient deadline, complete with fine or similar for late submission,
• finally get missing info with around a day to sort,
• takes five minutes to draft,
• fourteen hours of telephone ping pong trying to get sign off or approval,
• and only then get to cross the item from the list
• IF you’re lucky…

Now, multiply this by 15-20 engagements at any one time and what do you get?

Back to mind poo as highlighted a few posts ago.

Ah, yes

Uplegation – like delegation but not.

Think 180 degrees away.

Think being delegated to by your staff.

The things they don’t want to do that keep ending up back on your plate…

Short break to go and vote.

Oooookkkkaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy

and back again.

Oh yes – three of the week – might as well continue for at least this week as well.

At networking this morning the ‘talk’ was by Paul Newton, magician and mind reader.

I would HIGHLY recommend seeing him if he is in the area. Creases me up every time.

No idea how he does it but look at his YouTube channel if you want your mind blown away.

He didn’t do the trick where he covers his face in gaffer tape – I notice the tape is green in the promos as well – but the one where he tells you your date of birth and PIN number is really, really scary!

What else?

Oh yes, the supported housing “stuff” is coming to an end – nine years I’ve done and that’s the limit.

Nine years is well enough in fact – some of the arguments with local council, etc. are enough to shred your mind.

No more beating my head against a brick wall – you know what they say? It’s lovely when you stop…

And finally? There’s always beer (in the evening of course)!

There’s mine, what are you having?