Weeknotes #10

Sat in a planning session for a project I was briefly pulled onto, I thought to myself “this is fascinating”. This thought was so clear, that for a moment I wondered if I had said it out loud. I’ll maintain a degree of professionalism and not say much more, but it was interesting to see what happens when a prominent project is felt to be going awry. Anyway, my second week in government was very different to my first, yet my understanding of how things work in Whitehall is a good deal clearer as a result – although I suspect I’ve barely scratched the surface.

Such unpredictability may soon become tiring, but for now, I’m rolling with the punches and trying to absorb and learn as much as I can. After my break away from the world of design, it also feels good to be exercising my creative muscles again. This enthusiasm was evident when I grabbed a drink with Rob on Wednesday night at the new Holler Taproom, which has been on my to-visit list since it opened a few months ago. Their Acidulated House beer hit the spot, but Rob thinks the place smells like bleach. You can’t please everyone.

Today is my Dad’s birthday, so yesterday me and my parents visited the Clergy House in Alfriston, the first building acquired by the National Trust. One of the features of its timber frame is a carved oak leaf, which may have been the inspiration for the trust’s familiar logo. Alfriston is one of those quintessential Sussex villages untouched by history, yet undoubtedly swamped by tourists and ramblers throughout much of the year. I may join them when the weather improves.