Arrive back from holiday in Tenerife and go straight into one of APSEs main committees on my first day back. As well as the business side of the meeting, there is also two policy papers which are up for debate and the Committee are in the mood for a discussion.
The Scottish APSE Housing and Building seminar takes place at Dalmahoy and due to other commitments its a 5.30am start for me as I am speaking in the first session on Trading and Charging.
The Scottish Regional Council of APSE meets in Glasgow today and I go along to lend support to our Principal Advisor in Scotland, Pat and also to kick off discussions about elected members involvement in the Association post the May elections.
Meet up with Dave Prentis the General Secretary of UNISON at his offices in London. We discuss research APSE are undertaking as part of our research partnership with INLOGOV and CLES.
In Gateshead today to view the Sage Centre as a venue for the Association's Annual Seminar in September. Like what we see, a purpose built conference venue, it will do for us. Representatives from Gateshead Council have encouraged us to bring the event here and their support and enthusiasm makes us feel wanted. The fact we also find a venue with a capacity of 750 for the annual dinner clinches the deal.
The circle of people sit hushed as I start to stand up, my voice cracks as I begin to speak, the pressure of owning up to the reality of the situation bites deep into my very soul, but some how the words come out " Hello, my names Paul and I am having a midlife crisis". Someone mutters a response about one day at a time or something but I don't really hear it, my own words drowning out the other voice as it registers that today I am 40.
It's the APSE annual Healthy Living seminar in York for two days and I rush over for the opening session where Parmjit Dhanda MP, Under Secretary of State for Children, Families and Young People is speaking along with Michael Nelson from the School Food Trust.