And now, the end is near...

So, it's time to bid you adieu. I've loved it - I get to rant a bit and then hear your thoughts on my ramblings. All we need is a bottle of chilled white wine... Anyways, two things for this post - a final rant-ette and a handover.

First with the handover - I'm passing the reins over to Sarah Darlington from Centrica - good luck Sarah. Hopefully, you'll all be nice and welcome her with open minds and lots of comments.

Secondly, my rant-ette for the week. I saw recently in Metro (can't find the link!), the free newspaper in UK cities (and thanks to Emma for not nicking this story despite threats in the pub), that the smoking ban soon to come into effect in England will affect company cars. This means that if your staff have company cars, they aren't allowed to smoke in them. The story in itself didn't surprise me - company cars being an extension of company property and all. What did surprise me was the small internal comms plan the paper had included in the article - things for companies to consider when talking to their staff. Included were ideas like putting posters up in smoking rooms, leafleting those who stand round the back of the building having a sneaky one, or using regular newsletters to remind staff about the changes.

All very noble. Thanks Metro. But this doesn't help our cause - what we do takes time to master and, while it may be common sense, not everyone has the experience we do. On the otherhand, it was probably quite useful to the small business owner (who, incidentally, probably doesn't commute, and therefore probably doesn't read Metro, but who's nit picking...).

Thank you for listening to my final rant (well, as a blogger anyway). This has been a lot of fun - I'd encourage more of you who read this but don't comment to get involved! and I'm still waiting on those contacts through Facebook and LinkedIn - don't make me feel like this...

Fiona

Comments

[Sue]

Hi Fiona

Thanks for your posts - really enjoyed reading them, and I'm very glad to see you've joined me in my addiction to Jeroen's blog. I'm even using one of his cartoons in my Black Belt slides this time.

Looking forward to seeing you for that bottle of chilled white wine soon...

Sue

[Liam FitzPatrick]

Which, of course you'll be crediting!

Liam

[Fiona]

Yes - for all copyright purposes - thanks to Mr Sinatra and Jeroen (in that order) - did you ever think you'd be in a sentence with Frank, Jeroen?!

[Mark Darby]

Fiona

Well, I've just added you on Facebook (after first checking that I am not the only one in fancy dress in your friend list).

Does this mean I will be able to intelligent online IC ranting now?

[Fiona]

Marvellous. Am not so lonely now - loving the pastimes of saving planets (and obviously managers from horrible deaths as a result of poorly thought out comms)...
Rant away my friend! ;o)

[Sue]

Well, you could take up additional pastime of joining campaign to try & get Jeroen to be a guest blogger. Coming up we have a comedian, a Kiwi, and I reckon a guest spot from the honourable KartoenBe person would be the icing on the cake for summer ...

[Jeroen]

Ha ha, you don't give up, don't you Sue? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to help you out, but I don't know what to write about. Well at least not for a whole month. But I'll think about it, ok? ;-)

@Fiona: no, I think that's a first...! :-D