"Time Waits for no man" - especially Presidents

First of all an apology for not writing a blog for quite a while! Time passes by so quickly, and in the business of our lives we prioritise. I confess the blog went on the back burner. However, yesterday it was pointed out to me that it has been a while, so here is the August blog. I recently took a short break from work and went over to see Trix's family in Italy. I had a couple of opportunities to take photographs, two of which are shown. The main thing was seeing family. Trix is a great Aunt to triplets and to see them was a joy. The more I reflect on life, the more I realise that realtionships, whether work, social or family are the most important things. People and the relationships between them is the most important thing (for me) of the institution. All that we do, I hope, is for the members, who are not just names on a spreadsheet, but people, with lives and aspirations. So, spending time with family, having some great meals, sitting out late and enjoying a bbq and the conversation was for me, the best part of the holiday. I also got to enjoy a 100 year old brandy. A bit special and very very smooth!! i know August is the quiet month - holidays etc, but come September the ILP will be getting very busy. The Summit in Glasgow and a new President. I am looking forward to seeing mark Johnson taking on the role of President and doing this blog. So I hope to see you at Glasgow. The pictures. The lantern and bracket are attached to the ruin of a castle, which sits high on a hill. I particularly liked the moon and sky that evening. The second picture is of the sun setting. The rich colours and the grasses. So the contrast is between manmade and natural - enjoy

Summer is here!

We really are enjoying some warm sunny days, plum trees are covered in plums, so looking forward to September for more than one reason.1- Plums,  2- Handover Presidency to Mark Johnson!!


Decided that our cottage will now be known as Plum Tree Cottage. How original is that. I suspect if I had named it in Welsh, I could have got away with a snappy little title - y bwthyn ar y bryn gyda choed eirin a barcutiaid coch yn hedfan uwchben. Which translates as -the cottage on the hill with plum trees and red kites flying overhead.

Longest day has gone and each evening the sun sets a little earlier. I have two pics , the first was the sunset on longest day - that is the sun set behind a cloud, but the pic came out ok and the next pic was  the actual sun setting a couple of days later.
I have one last sunset to show, which is my screen saver and will be my last blog. (7th September 2013)

So, the last week had the Charles Marques memorial Lecture, which was given by Prefessor Semir Zeki. How does the brain perceive colour. A fascinating look, with sorting scientific testing, at how our brain works with colour. We see absolute colours, intensity and time of day does not come into it. Green is green, etc.  There was a good half and hour of questions, followed by more discussion over drinks. A great evening.

The next day was the Surveyor Conference, which I chaired in the morning and gave a paper in the afternoon. I think that is my last official engagment. A good conference, with the challeges of cost saving and how technology can help, + a look at some of the ILP Prefessional Guides.

This week is my last Executive Board Meeting. Lots to engage us, and we will have Mark Cooper (Senior Vice President - Designate) sitting in on the meeting. Just to remind you, Mark's job as VP membership is available, so if you think you could make a difference, do apply. Talk to Richard Frost (richard@the ilp.org.uk)

I wish all who read this well until my next blog - whenever!!

Pete

7th AGM - Irish Region

In the middle of last week, I attended the SLL AGM and awards. My congratulations to Iain McCrae for a good year as the SLL President. We met at several events and even had a glass of whisky together at the Scottish Spring meeting. I wish Kevin kelly all the best,  as the new SLL President.

Not long before I hand over to Mark Johnson at Glasgow. I also wish Mark Cooper well as he is the SVP designate. Mark's role as VP Membership is available. Put your name forward if you think this is a role you could do.

I have just got back from a fantastic few days in Ireland. The Irish Region AGM, dinner and technical seminar was held at the Marine Hotel, Howth. A great venue and my congratulations to Michael Doherty for a sucessful year as Chairman. I wish the new Chairman, Colm Carton all the best in his year. It was a well organised AGM and John Walsh gave an excellent presentation on CMS. My thanks to Paddy Craven for all his hard work as the Region's Secretary. Not only a past Chairman and past ILP President, but still working hard for the ILP in the Irish Region.

Not only did the AGM and dinner go well, but I was able to get 18 holes in at Howth Golf Club. Picture below gives you an idea of the spectacular views overlooking Howth and beyond to Dublin.

 

 



I have been enjoying the weekend and today June 1st is the first day of summer, so I hope we all have agreat summer!!

 

Don't forget Lightscene at Uttoxeter on the 4th June.

 

I won't be blogging next weekend as I am away walking in the Peak District.

Have a great week. Pete

Catch up

First of an apology. I have not managed to blog in May, until now.
I have been very busy with ILP duties that occupied some weekends, and left me with no time to sit down and write a blog.

So back tracking to 30th April
The afternoon was the Executive Board (EB) Meeting. First thing to report was the appointment of Jo Wilkins. I wish Jo all the best in her new job at the ILP.
Jo@theilp.org.uk

The  EB is grappling with Marketing and will be looking to take on a part time marketing specialist. We can then assess how effective this role is in promoting the ILP and what we do.

I then had four hours to kick my heels waiting for the sleeper from Euston to Edinburgh for the Scottish Spring Technical Meeting - Dinner and AGM ( and a bit of golf!)  Sleeper is a bit of a mis-nomer for this train. I may have dozed but was not over refreshed when the train pulled into Edinburgh at 7.30am. No worries. A three station hop down a local line and met David Duncan (the Scottish Region Councillor)   Had a great game of golf at the local course and congratulations to Past President - David McNair, who was the winner. I did not disgrace myself with 31 points. Good but no cigar.
A great evening dinner and a Glaswegion Footballer regaled us with stories. I had a glass of Talisker Whisky with Ian McCraie, who is President of the SLL and also one of the speakers at the Technical Session the next day.

I would like to congratulate Bobby Borland on an excellent year as Scottish Region Chairman, and also wish Darryl Bullock a great year as the new Chairman.



Thursday 9th May was the Past Presidents Meeting. Great to see Alsitair Scott ,Chris Hardy , Paddy Craven and Shaun Capper, our distinguished Past Presidents. Sorry Mark Burrows  and Allan Howard had to give apologies . Watch out for the porposed nomination for the next Senior Vice President and a need for a replacement Vice President in the next E News letter.

The next event was the Midland Region Dinner Dance, held at the Forest of Arden Hotel and Golf Club on saturday 11th May.

Another opportunity for an enjoyable game of golf. Manged joint 1st with Dave Beniston, but lost on count back

I would like to congratulate John Hall and the committee on an exceptional event. After the dinner thjere was an Elton John Tribute band. Great songs and several pictures of people wearing silver or gold star shaped glasses!  Everybody had a superb evening.

Friday 17th May was the North Eastern Dinner Dance, held at Durham and Emily Bolt's first official event as the new Chairman. Well done Emily and the committee. A super evening. Trix and I left early on Saturday to go to Suffolk for some time with Grandson. Fish and chips at Southwold on the Suffolk coast line. A lovely weekend with family.

I went to Rugby on 21st of May. No not to the ILP offices, but to he National Association of Memorail Masons (NAMM) for a city and guild exam on assessing graves in church yards. I work for a local authority and we have a number of closed church yards that have to be inspected. I am now qualified and classed as competent. As you can see, competency affects several areas of my work. Not just lighting!

Yesterday was the Lighting Industry Association Luncheon. I sat next to Bill Wright, the New Light Monger Master and Lou Bedocs. We got talking about LED's and how they may affect the human physiology. More research needed.

So that brings me up to date.
Bank Holdiay weekend, so I thought I would get this blog done now and leave the weekened for family.

I hope you all have  a great Weekend. I would like to wish Alistair (Scott) and Mandy (soon to be Scott) all the best for their forth coming wedding. I hope all will go well for them.

Next week is the seventh and last Regional AGM. I will be in Ireland for three days. I am really looking forward to going over. Paddy Craven, I hope to have a whisky or guiness with you.

All the best and have a great week

Pete

In difficult times there is light at the end!

It's about people

Sitting at my kitchen table, I am looking out over a sea of beautiful white plum blossom. Lots to still do in the garden, but it is taking shape. Missed my blog last week as I took a short break in Portugal. Refreshed, I have returned and had two engagements to carry out.

Firstly I went over to the Exterior Lighting Diploma (ELD) Course to present an Honorary Member Certficate to Malcolm Mackness, lecturer on the ELD course. This was Malcom's last lecture, and it was a privelge to honour him. Malcolm taught me, when I did the course many years ago. Malcom has lectured for over thirty years. I know that the ILP, many others and myself are grateful for all that Malcolm has given to the Institution.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Anthony Smith, who has taken on Malcolm's lecturing duties.

Great to see the ELD continuing to be such a success. I would also like to thank Jean Norton who has taken on the running of the course. I need to keep her sweet, as she books my flights and hotels!

Second engagment was  the North Eastern Region AGM, which was held at the Black Sheep Brewery at Masham. The do brew a good pint!! I was delighted to be there and see Emily Bolt become the first Lady Chairman. Well done Emily, wishing you and the Region a great year. I will be going back to their Dinner Dance, and I am hoping to get to one of their technical seminars, when Anthony Smith speaks about Durham Cathedral lighting. Should be good!!

Next week is Executive Board and then up to Scotland for the Scottish Region AGM.

I hope you the reader have a good week.
Pete

It's warming up!

I guess living on an island next to the atlantic ocean does make us susceptable to very variable weather, couple this with spring finally coming in, and I sitting in my kitchen looking out on bright sunshine (great), 18 degrees (great) and strong winds (not so great). however two out of three is not so bad!.

It really is good to start to see that subtle hint of green coming out on the hedges, as the buds finally start to burst out. I love this time of year, as the rich vibrant colours emerge. The greens are all fresh, and it won't be long before they start to deepen and become set for summer, before again changing to the range of browns and winter. Now lets not rush, we have only just got spring on the go. Across the road, the farmer has been preparing the field for planting, so if it is the same crop as last year, the green wheat shoots will soon start appear.

Also been enjoying watching the Masters, and seeing not only great golf, but beautiful blossoms on a stunning golf course.

Last week I went to a llghting liaison group meeting and the second of seven regional agms. This time it was the Western region, with Roger Joy taking over as chairman. The Western Region have been through some challenging times, which they have faced up to and dealt with. I wish Roger and the Western Region well for the coming year.

Next week is the Midland Region AGM at the NEC and the Northern Region at Warrington. Two motorbike journeys for me. I will then be out of the country for a short break, so won't promise a blog next week.

The  photo is of Scar Fell on a similar day to the Western Region AGM, rain and mist, but some blue sky.

No Title!

Finally the weather is warming up!  I have been busy with home projects, fitting a kitchen and enjoying Easter.

Enjoyed going to the Lighting Design Awards and presenting the ILP sponsored award for external luminaire to ACDC for the Fusion.  A great night celebrating good lighting design. Since Easter, I have been to  L&SE Committee meeting and the first technical meeting, under new Chairman Eddie Henry. It was great to get along to my own regions Technical Meeting.

As I have said before,  the next few weeks will be very busy, with six more Regional AGM's to meet many members around the regions.

This week I will be attending a Lighting Liaison Group meeting and then on thursday going to the Western Region AGM. A short blog and to finish a picture of a Vulcan Bomber photgraphed on a warm sunny day.

 

Have a good week . Pete