Out for a run (aka slow jog)

 

Out for a run just before dusk tonight around Wanstead flats and enjoyed lovely skyline from near Alexandra Lake. 

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2024: Day 1 Tuesday

 

I am at UNISON National Delegate Conference (NDC) as a NEC member for Community (Housing Associations and Voluntary sector). NDC is the "Parliament" of UNISON and decides upon policies, finance and rules for the forthcoming year. 

In the morning I was up at 7am for a run (aka as a slow jog) around the beach for 2.5 miles enjoying the sea breeze and getting ready for the day ahead. Most of which will be spend on the NEC platform listerning to debates, reports and speeches inside the huge Conference hall.

My first meeting was with the other members of the NEC at our hotel at 8.30am where we discussed conference business and standing orders reports etc. Conference itself started at 10am

We began conference with a welcome by our lay President, Libby Noland, introductions to our guests and international visitors then we remembered UNISON staff and activists who had died in the previous year. This is always a moving moment. 

Next we had our Standing Orders Committee (SOC) report which outline the programme for the week and which motions had been accepted as "competent" (able to be debated at conference) "composited" (similar motions merged) and "consequences" (if a motion is passed it may result in other motions becoming out of date or invalid). 

The job of being Chair of SOC and reporting to Conference its decisions is a rather thankless task. Nearly all decisions taken by the 15 democratically elected members of SOC are routinely "referenced back" to the SOC (they are asked to reconsider their decisions). While this is an important rule book right of delegates, I feel that some abuse this right to "grandstand" and make speeches. It also wastes a lot of time at conference that could be better spent debating motions. 

We then went on to discuss the UNISON annual report, our Financial statements and receive the President's speech (which also included the presentation of the Eric Roberts Award to an inspiring young member).  

During lunch I attended the Greater London Regional new delegates event with my fellow London Council officers. I clearly remember how completely unfathomable and confusing my first ever UNISON conference was would have welcomed the chance to chat to more experienced conference colleagues about such things as "points of order", "card vote" and the "snake". 

There was a number of important motions debated on Climate change, Exploitation of migrant workers and the year of LGBT+. I thought it was very good that speakers were explaining their preferred pronouns, when introducing themselves at the beginning of their speeches. 

After conference there was a useful fringe on the "Political fund" ballot which must take place very soon. All members will be balloted on whether or not UNISON should have "political" funds. Every 10 years all trade unions have to undertake this. It will cost over a million pounds for this to take place. Note that shareholders are not individually balloted by post when companies decide to make political denotations to the Conservative Party. I hope that a future Labour Government will get rid of this requirement. 

Exercise log since 2018 (and Roman Road Keto Brunch)

After a run yesterday I checked my watch app (currently called Zepp Life) and I found I had been for 1700 miles of walks and ran 1100 miles since 26/5/18 (also 1546 miles of Cycling). Celebrated with Keto brunch in Fiesta Café, Roman Road.
 

Wanstead flats babies (and a striking red)

Off message but main photo from Saturday run with Gill (or "very slow jog") and cute picture of Canadian Geese family alongside Alexandria Lake, in Wanstead flats.

Below is a lovely moth or butterfly, we came across when stretching outside the Golden Fleece pub.

Anyone know what it is? I have searched Google images but cannot find an exact match?

Blue Bells in Wanstead Park

Out for a run this morning in Wanstead Park. The blue bells in Chalet Wood are magnificent and well worth seeing. My picture does not do them justice. 

Alexandra Lake Wanstead Flats

Photo from run on Sunday (stylised). The Lake was named after the wife of King Edward VII and dug in 1905/06 to improve drainage and provide work for "unemployed men under the control of the West Ham Distress Committee".

Wanstead flats on a bright frosty January morning

A beautiful and stunning start to the day. A 30 minutes jog. You would never think that this wonderful open space is surrounded by densely populated suburbia.  

Olympic Anniversary Run 2013

I still can't quite believe that the London Olympics have been and gone (and its now almost a year since!).

Life in Newham has pretty much returned to normal but the Olympic Park (now renamed the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park) is there to remind us that it was all not a dream

This morning I took part in a 5 mile Anniversary run around the Olympic Park finishing off in the Stadium itself.

There were I believe about 12000 runners. The weather was warm but thankfully overcast so not too hot.

It was a strange feeling waiting for the start amidst all these thousands of like minded strangers dressed in the same blue National Lottery tee-shirts.  We were divided into white, red, green and pink sections and while we waited we were blasted with very loud "motivation music" with lots of bass. Pretty much everyone was cheerful and eager to go but a little apprehensive.

I wonder why we do this? I thought we are supposed to be living in an "individualist" society. Does this sort of thing appeal to some sort of collective race memory? Who knows (or cares).

The run itself went okay although at the beginning a little crowded in places so you had to walk for a bit then run then walk again.  You could not avoid bumping into people but nearly everyone was very "English" about things with lots of "sorry" and "excuse me".

It was superb to run again through the Olympic park. The waterways and green spaces are just absolutely stunning. I can still remember the awful industrial estate and ugly railway sidings that were there when I used to cycle to work from Forest Gate to Bow.

I had a bit of a panic when I saw a 3 mile marker when I was expecting the 4 mile one but thankfully I was looking at the wrong marker.

The best part was the final 300m along the Olympic Stadium running track to the finish line with the crowd cheering and clapping. That was a long, long 300m mind!

At the end we picked up our goodie bags and medals. As we went out of the park families and young children were streaming into it for their run.

I walked back to Forest Gate feeling pretty happy and content with myself albeit just a little sore.

(Picture of fellow Councillor David Christie bottom left and I have stolen his great pic of the "medal and Tortoise" from Facebook. Also Newham Labour Candidate 2014 James Beckles top right)

Newham 10k London Run 2010

Somewhat off message but I have just signed up on-line to the 2010 Newham 10k Run which is taking place on Sunday 7 March. This morning I had a glorious run locally in the sunshine and mud and this has inspired me to take part. There are only 3000 places and you can join up for £20 here. Below is part of the blurb.

Make history. Be part of the first run in the Olympic Park and soak up the delights of Stratford Park, West Ham Park, The Greenway and Stratford town centre whilst you’re at it

10km run starting and finishing next to Stratford Park on Sunday 7 March at 10:00

For runners of all abilities age 15 & over

Closing date midnight Sunday 14 February 2010

l'll be asking for sponsorship on behalf of:-

Alone in London

Alone in London provides a wide range of help and support services to meet the needs of vulnerable young people in London who are 16 -25 and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Alone In London works to resolve advice and assessment services, helps with immediate housing crisis, re-establishes positive family contact where appropriate and assist young people who want to return home.

Alone in London teaches independent living skills, motivating and assisting with education, training and employment opportunities as well as supporting the transition to independence. It also works with young people leaving prison and supports them to resettle into the community, as well as providing Family Mediation services, an advocacy project and volunteering service.

For more information about the services provided by Alone In London, contact the Alone In London Young People Service Co-ordinator:

Tel: 020 7278 4224

Email: alone@als.org.uk

Just click on the Justgiving link here to donate on-line.