A bed of roses

Really quite worried about one of my colleagues. But their need to get out for a walk and a chat provided a positive distraction for another colleague who has shit going on... so, ill winds and silver linings, I suppose.

EPC tried taking the other PMs through the work we've done so far on Power Apps/Project. Unfortunately, they have a tendency to start the story in the middle, then use words like 'obviously' and 'we wanted', without bringing people on the journey. So, there was push-back from one of the other PMs who really gets rubbed the wrong way by EPC's style. Oh, personality clashes, what wonders you are! Second PM thought EPC had got fixated on the tool rather than the problem we want to solve - which is understanding resource clashes. However, the best way to understand the resource clashes is to put all the data into the tool! But that particular insight didn't spring to mind at the right moment. Hindsight is also a wonderful thing :D

Anyway, the tool is whizzy and it does provide a solution to a number of issues. It's much easier to update than the current version of Project, so that's a plus for the PMs. We can also build a report for the PMs to use for their fortnightly updates that draws most of its info from the tool, so all they need to provide is some narrative - which also reduces their workload. (Note to self - make sure we give PMs the FINAL version...). And we can also build a report for me to use for the portfolio dashboard that goes on the website. It can also handle project requests, so will replace the current MSForm - though I'm not sure about how people will access it. And it can replace my current SharePoint list that is my 'Bible' for projects. On top of which, we can see where the resources are being squeezed.

Of course, the tool is only as good as the data that goes into it, so it will require REGULAR updates from the PMs. Which may be a challenge... But that's my job! AND we also need to agree the process and the new gates, which is the other thing the PMs are really keen on. Again, EPC's approach suggested cart before horse, which really isn't the case, but the PMs need to feel they've been included, just like any other stakeholders. Considering we're all in the business of change management, you'd think none of us knew anything about it *facepalm*

But it does feel like we've made more progress in a week than I've made in years. Partly that's the energy of EPC. Partly it's the placement student in the Power BI team who needs some 'real' work to do. And partly it's that Microsoft's toolset is all coming together. Timing is everything.

In IFR, I retrieved Daedalus' treasure with help from Phosphor <3 Popped back to the Hall of the Gods for a chat, then headed off to Zeus' mountain. Where I'm a bit stuck. There are cold spots that sap my stamina. Aphrodite said something about her fires warming me up but I've only found one cold spot that had any braziers to light. The others are just cold. I'll have another go tomorrow. Sometimes the answer is right there... I'm also not averse to watching a LP for the ending and just moving on :D

Tooth had a couple of grumbly moments today, but mostly it's been OK. So I'm thankful for that!

So after ringing the emergency dental line yesterday but there being no appointments left, I was advised to ring at 8am this morning. I rang at 8.04am and was told I was in a really long queue and they'd ring me back. The called back about 8.35am by which point the only appointments left were in Chester. Now, as the crow flies - or even in a car - Chester isn't that far away. On public transport it's the best part of 2 hours from our house to Chester and then I'd have to find the place doing the appointment! So I turned it down. I was planning to go into the office tomorrow because I'm wfh on Wednesday due to husband's eye exam and then on Friday because I prefer Fridays at home, but I'm going to wfh tomorrow and Wednesday instead. I will then get to the dentist for 9am when they open and ask for an urgent appointment. There's no point ringing them and leaving a message. I have a quiet day workwise, so hopefully they can fit me in and find out what's going on. The worst thing about the toothache is it sometimes disappears completely and lulls me into a false sense of security - then it suddenly slams into my jaw again. Unhappy Rosa is unhappy.

But on the upside, I got to spend a lot of time on IFR today again. I have three gods fully restored and am working on the fourth. The questlines are varied in terms of their execution as well as what you're actually looking for. I'm picking up side stuff as I encounter it but not really seeking it out. Except Ambrosia. Ambrosia is good. Mostly, it's all pretty forgiving, or the story essentials are. As I said yesterday, I ran into an optional boss that hit HARD. Some new stuff has hit the PS+ Catalogue today, which I'll check out but if nothing really grabs me I may consider hoovering up All The Things in IFR ahead of returning to FFXVI.

Grandson #1 came to be one of the boys for the League Cup Final, which Liverpool won, of course :D Our first leaving gift for Jurgen. How do you follow a man like that?

And Eddie Edwards is out of DoI :( He was such a joy to watch, this year's surprise package. Expect the final will come down to Miles and Adele, but who knows?

And that was today but it seems like a very, very long time since I got up because I was making an effort to be ready to zip off to an emergency dentist :D At least I know I'll get some sleep if I'm sitting up.

Monday was a fun day.

In the morning, I was sitting half curled in one of our armchairs, as is my wont, chatting to the husband and finishing my breakfast.  As I stood up I felt a slight twinge in my back, which has become the weirdest and most irritating back pain I've ever had.  When I'm sitting or standing, it's fine.  But the action of standing or sitting produces agony.  It is, very slowly, getting better.  But I am so over it, now.

I also managed to get the cover art for Mannerley to behave on my work PC.  Yay!!!  I have ordered a proof copy, which takes 3-5 working days.  Last Monday was, of course, a holiday in the US.  And it's got to make its way across the Atlantic.  Can't wait to actually hold MY book in my hands!!!

The rest of the week has been all about standing upright in about 3 stages, having Ideas about how my gamer colleague and I can shape the PMO, and playing FF8R.

I am also having Ideas for Nano '19.  I've always had ambitions to write a series, so I am going to use November to sketch out what that might look like.  5 books in 50k words - we'll see how that goes.