History

I started the Blog on December 2006. In August 2007 , I started the political post.I waited seven months for a working relationship to emerge. It didn't.

Without re- reading the posts I realise they reflect negatively on how this council has functioned.

I'm aware of that. And how easily it can be argued it's because of my bias. It is hard to refute.
It may even be true. But what can be made of it.

It's Christmas. The Season of Good Will to All in the Name of The Christ Child. Surely I can think of something warm and positive.

It's hard.

I am looking at a document. I received it rolled like a parchment scroll of old and tied with a golden ribbon.

It 's an invitation to a Council and Senior Staff Celebration at Church Street School on Friday, December 18Th.

My first reaction was what! ... Another night ...whose idea was this?

Then I heard of the separation between senior staff and all others.

Then came a request for a response. I decided to decline.

Next came a notice of change of venue from Church Street School to the home of Mayor Morris
and husband Brian.

The rumour mill is active. I heard some staff indicated they would not attend the afternoon
celebration for lesser lights and were threatened accordingly.

Now I'm looking at the first proclamation before I discard it. It's very nice. Quite beautiful in fact. Probably took a day to design.

Old habits are hard to break. Questions occur. The document took time to create. The host is not indicated. Who decided ? Which budget? The venue has changed. What's to be made of that?

After all three years of tortuous evenings of sitting with hands folded, colleagues disappearing , new ones appearing, eyes downcast, listening to endless meaningless, pointless, contradictory often hostile commentary, why would senior staff be any more inclined to spend another evening in the company of a tense and fractious council than lower level staff are inclined to accept an invitation that isn't ?

Do my thoughts reflect my bias?

Or does the situation simply defy logic?

Probably a bit of both.