A bed of roses

CIO's line manager asked for help with filling in a spreadsheet showing all our current projects (all stages) from the Strategy Support Office - so CIO delegated it to me and the Portfolio Manager. I took a look, shuffled a couple of lines around, updated all the lines, added a column (in response to something CIO's LM asked for) and filled in the exec sponsor column.

Portfolio Manager complained later that it was a complete mess and there were projects shown in 'discovery' that are really in 'delivery', and they were going to have to spend loads of time on Monday getting it all right. Remember, this is after I, the Keeper of the Portfolio, had edited it. I was going to let them do whatever they wanted. After all, they are technically the 'owner' of the portfolio (hence their job title). Part of the problem is the definition of 'delivery' - to them, it means 'a PM has been assigned', so they will declare a project is in delivery that hasn't even got an agreed scope! But, according to our new framework (which they have seen and signed up to!!!), delivery only kicks in when we start development; before that is discovery.

On the way home, I decided I'd have another go. After all, there were lines under 'discovery' that are really 'pre-discovery' - they've been signed off by the prioritisation body but there's no PM assigned. So, I split off the pre-discovery stuff and added a bit of explanation under the group headings. I also trimmed back the updates, so it's at least possible to read them. I then resent the spreadsheet to CIO and Portfolio Manager with an explanation of the headings being in line with the framework. Hopefully, Portfolio Manager will appreciate my efforts.

I also had a meeting with former LM and their new report about a slide deck I created a month ago - although it had completely gone out of my head because a) I've slept since then and b) I've had a lot of head-changes. Anyway, between us we worked out what information it was trying to show and what we needed to do to update it with their information. It's one of CIO's brainwaves that makes perfect sense to them, gets thrown to me to make something of it, and then I have to explain it to everyone else. Anyway, the discussion was really helpful and I've updated the slides and resent them, moving the deadline from tomorrow to next Friday - at which point it goes back to the CIO to decide what to do next.

Then there was a project board, followed by writing minutes to FFVII OG OST <3 As I was about half-way through, one of the PMs came over asking why they couldn't assign a resource to a task. Turned out they were searching on first name and this person was listed under surname. For some user records, either works; for others, you have to be precise. Stoopid system is stoopid.

Before I could get back to the minutes, LM asked me about my objectives from last year and the new ones they wanted to give me for this year. Which is all great - but it's a conversation for my annual review! 'Can I close these off, then?' NO!!! We will discuss it properly, and sign them off properly, at. my. review! Love that they love working with me, love that they want to get my new objectives set up early - but there's a PROCESS here...

Got back to the minutes, sent them to the PM who signed them off, updated the action list and sent the minutes on to the chair.

This afternoon, I decided to look up a review of the BG&E Remaster - and found Rosie from Playstation Access was doing a livestream! She was accompanied by Amy, who has been doing 'behind the scenes' work at Access for a while but has been getting front of the camera a bit lately - and loves BG&E so much she has a tattoo of Jade! I threw up a few comments, including saying I had to head off - and not only did I get a 'goodbye, Rosa' but a discussion on whether Heartlily is a reference to Rinoa! It almost makes up for Rob missing my comment about my birthday on Dave's livestream a few weeks ago - he signs 'Happy Birthday' as Gollum; it has to be seen to be believed.

When I got home, I ran down to the neighbour's house to collect grandson #1's book.

After tea, I made a bit of progress on Tunic. Used the guide to find some secrets, uncovered another all by myself! It really does pay to try walking through every wall and behind every column in that game.

And I rounded the day off with a couple of episodes of Psych - a murderous lesbian and street racing.

The Women's Organisation, a local not-for-profit that offers training and support for women, was running a 'nothing to celebrate' campaign, today. Their statement says why better than I can.

Another Angry Voice was also ranting at Keir Starmer talking about how hard it is for the Labour party to recruit a female leader, when the rules he put in place would disqualify all but two of the women who have ever stood for the position.

On the other hand, I had a nice, relaxed working day thanks to EPC doing the lion's share of the work on our new PM tool :D I am going to tackle the project request form element on Monday, though. I've compared it to our current form and I know what I want to change/add/remove. I just need the confidence to go ahead, now.

I watched Ash's final stream, where she got the other members of the Access team playing various horror games - and then they all played a cutesy cake thing together. Whatever is next for her, I know she'll be great.

Got another couple of hours of FFXVI in. Jill is now awake and in need of new clothes. I noticed the strength of her love for Clive in her determination to support him, no matter what. I've never doubted her resolve or her quality, but I still feel she's short-changed by the writing. I'll be on the lookout for the game to prove me wrong, though :) And I'd forgotten the depth of the relationship between Cid and Benedikta - or maybe it just got lost in my empathy for Clive's struggles. I'm really glad I decided to replay the whole thing, though. I'm in a much better frame of mind and more able to appreciate it, I think.

The next email from Leafyard has dropped but I haven't looked at it, yet. Maybe tomorrow. I'm uncomfortable at the idea I'm expected to 'perform' somehow. But given the lack of mental health support offered in general, it seems churlish not to take advantage of something offered by my employer for free! But I have this space for pouring out my thoughts and feelings when I feel the need to, rather than when someone else tells me I should. A quick glance at the topic - slow down by putting technology to one side - tells me there's nothing new there for me, AND it's making assumptions about my use of technology, which is annoying. Of course, I'm primed to find the whole thing annoying :D I honestly do want to give it a proper chance, but it's not helping itself.

And that's all for today.

So, I was just looking back at this entry from 2017 and found that I didn't like Geralt very much when I first played The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt :O  I had completely forgotten that.  Henry Cavill probably has something to do with it...

Anyway, how is life at the moment?

Well, the daughter and her fiance have had Covid but nothing too serious from the sound of it.  The grandson has made extra efforts at avoiding them :D  We continue to lead something of a charmed life in avoiding it completely, which amazes me given that the son works in a supermarket.

The weather continues mostly sunny but cold.  Last spring was cold and damp.  Sunshine is at least cheerful to look at through the window!

Playstation Access have introduced a pod cast to their weekly schedule, the artwork for which is equal parts amazing, hilarious and adorable.

And tomorrow I'm leading a joint thing with not only the other congregations in our Parish but also a Catholic church to do with Palm Sunday of which I have only the merest grasp because the Rector has had to sign herself off for a week with stress!  Still, I shall take my usual approach of going with the flow :D

Bye for now, DW.