Ok it sounds like it is Bob Dylan week here at Ciobs with that heading Michael. Well you might be right and let's hope I get the next bit correct. I heard on the radio this morning that Bob has given permission for some of his "hits" to be sampled by a Hip-Hop artist. Yes, indeed a Hip-Hop artist not sure exactly what that is. Is it like garage or that sort of thing? answers please to the usual address.
Well today sees the departure of Kirsty Gardner from our Customer Service Team. Kirsty is off to University soon. Some of you out there have spoken with with Kirsty I am sure, and I trust that you will join with all of us here at CIOBS in wishing Kirsty all the best for the future. Did Bob Dylan ever write a song with Kirsty in the title? Hip-Hop Kirsty perhaps!
Podcasting is still to the fore and Raymond will reveal the mystery guest very shortly. With a bit of good fortune everything will be revealed in the coming week. Not sure of the title of this though. "Podcast with Brown," " Raymond's Revelations" or maybe even" My Little Podcast."
We had our monthly staff meeting yesterday and the attendance was excellent with all those not on holiday attending. Many matters were discussed and there are exciting times ahead at CIOBS.
Today we have a group of students sitting the Chartered Banker," Managing People" examination here at CIOBS. Kick-off time was 9.30. Best wishes to you all .
Did you know that on this day in 1694, The Bank of England received a royal charter as a commercial institution and in 1940, Bugs Bunny made his official debut in the Warner Bros. animated cartoon "A Wild Hare".
Not sure if there is any connection there.
Well after those two bombshells I think it is time to go.
Have a lovely weekend
See you next week
Michael
Friday, 27 July 2007
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
Blogging in the Wind
How many blogs must a man or woman put down? Well it's that time of the week again. Apologies to Bob Dylan for the use of his lyrics! ( Note to younger viewers Bob Dylan is a singer/songwriter) Older readers might disagree about the singing part.
Well a Wednesday blog and a few exclusives coming up
Firstly The Schools Certificate in Financial Services has proved to be very popular and for all you school teachers out there I hope you are enjoying your summer break. I know you are looking forward to the new term and here is a link in respect of the above http://cibsbreeze.ciobs.org.uk/teachers/ This wonderful overview of the qualification is presented by your very own Raymond Brown. There is a lovely picture and you get to hear the man himself. He sounds better than Bob Dylan. He doesn't sing though - but neither does Bob. This will also be of interest to school students and parents.
Mr. Brown tells me that he is interviewing a very special person tomorrow and that the interview will be available as a podcast in the very near future. Stay tuned to the CIOBS blog for more news on this one.
Simon Thompson, Chief Executive, CIOBS, was interviewed for the Scotland on Sunday newspaper yesterday. This should hopefully be in this Sunday's edition. I wonder if he mentioned me!!! Raymond will no doubt get a mention.
Will SOS's circulation rise this weekend? I am sure all of you out there will buy a copy. What section of the paper will it appear in? I think it will be the Business Section and there might even be a photo of Simon.
There is an Apex 5 revision 2day session scheduled for 13th and 14th August to be held here at CIOBS and there are a couple of spaces left. There is also an option to sit the final examination on the afternoon of 14th August. Please contact Gillian Muir on 0131 473 7796 if you wish further information on this.
Well time to carry on with the midweek madness.
Speak to you later in the week,
Michael
Well a Wednesday blog and a few exclusives coming up
Firstly The Schools Certificate in Financial Services has proved to be very popular and for all you school teachers out there I hope you are enjoying your summer break. I know you are looking forward to the new term and here is a link in respect of the above http://cibsbreeze.ciobs.org.uk/teachers/ This wonderful overview of the qualification is presented by your very own Raymond Brown. There is a lovely picture and you get to hear the man himself. He sounds better than Bob Dylan. He doesn't sing though - but neither does Bob. This will also be of interest to school students and parents.
Mr. Brown tells me that he is interviewing a very special person tomorrow and that the interview will be available as a podcast in the very near future. Stay tuned to the CIOBS blog for more news on this one.
Simon Thompson, Chief Executive, CIOBS, was interviewed for the Scotland on Sunday newspaper yesterday. This should hopefully be in this Sunday's edition. I wonder if he mentioned me!!! Raymond will no doubt get a mention.
Will SOS's circulation rise this weekend? I am sure all of you out there will buy a copy. What section of the paper will it appear in? I think it will be the Business Section and there might even be a photo of Simon.
There is an Apex 5 revision 2day session scheduled for 13th and 14th August to be held here at CIOBS and there are a couple of spaces left. There is also an option to sit the final examination on the afternoon of 14th August. Please contact Gillian Muir on 0131 473 7796 if you wish further information on this.
Well time to carry on with the midweek madness.
Speak to you later in the week,
Michael
Friday, 20 July 2007
Harry Blogger
Whilst out for my brief lunchtime stroll today I noticed that the Queue has started for the new Harry Potter book. There were about half a dozen youngsters already in place outside a well known establishment in Princes Street. Roll on midnight.
Here at CIOBS our very own R.J. Brownling is on leave today so it falls to me to cast the spell of the blog upon you. (Right cut out the bad Harry Potter stuff Michael, well seen it's Friday!)
So what's going on then? Well I am continuing with the revision notes for Business Banking. These will be on the shelfs in due course. But will people be queing up at midnight for it then I hear you ask!
Bulk Emails - now there's a thing. We have been working on this one for a wee while now and I can exclusively reveal to you my dear bloggers that succesfull trials have been carried out this week and live BE's as I shall call them have been sent. This enables us to select students from varies categories e.g qualification, what stage they are at within the qualification etc. and sent relevant emails to a particular group. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email to you. The content will be of relevance to you. Revision days, Examination reminders etc.
Well as i write this I have suffered from bloggers interuptus! A student had asked to speak to me. Yes, it happens you know! This student has just passed an on-line exam a few minutes ago here at CIOBS and wanted to let me know. This is always a nice moment.
What else is happening? Well on the technical front Podcasts. The work on this front is progressing nicely and once again something to watch out for at www.ciobs.org.uk
The student reffered to earlier mentioned that the on-line tutorials had been very helpful. Please go the following page on the website for more info on this one. http://www.ciobs.org.uk/qualifications/os_tutorials.cfm You will need to sign in to the website of course.
I will finish now on this Friday by wishing you and yours a great weekend. Whether or not it is a Harry Potter one.
Michael
Here at CIOBS our very own R.J. Brownling is on leave today so it falls to me to cast the spell of the blog upon you. (Right cut out the bad Harry Potter stuff Michael, well seen it's Friday!)
So what's going on then? Well I am continuing with the revision notes for Business Banking. These will be on the shelfs in due course. But will people be queing up at midnight for it then I hear you ask!
Bulk Emails - now there's a thing. We have been working on this one for a wee while now and I can exclusively reveal to you my dear bloggers that succesfull trials have been carried out this week and live BE's as I shall call them have been sent. This enables us to select students from varies categories e.g qualification, what stage they are at within the qualification etc. and sent relevant emails to a particular group. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email to you. The content will be of relevance to you. Revision days, Examination reminders etc.
Well as i write this I have suffered from bloggers interuptus! A student had asked to speak to me. Yes, it happens you know! This student has just passed an on-line exam a few minutes ago here at CIOBS and wanted to let me know. This is always a nice moment.
What else is happening? Well on the technical front Podcasts. The work on this front is progressing nicely and once again something to watch out for at www.ciobs.org.uk
The student reffered to earlier mentioned that the on-line tutorials had been very helpful. Please go the following page on the website for more info on this one. http://www.ciobs.org.uk/qualifications/os_tutorials.cfm You will need to sign in to the website of course.
I will finish now on this Friday by wishing you and yours a great weekend. Whether or not it is a Harry Potter one.
Michael
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
Sunny Tuesday or is it a humdinger where you are?
Yes we do love to talk about the weather. A sunny morning here in the capital. It wasn't like that yesterday when I returned to work. It was persistently pouring down with large puddles on the outside lane of the M9. Nevertheless I got here safely and I am now back into the swing of things.
I see that Raymond has been keeping busy while I was away and I noticed the reference to wee Pete. I thought he was actually 3 foot 6 ,but hey, the Blog is the place to learn from.
As always there is plenty going on here at CIOBS as one examination diet passes and the results issued then preparations are in the place for the next one. Revision days and Chat rooms for the next diet are also in place, further details of these can be found at www.ciobs.org.uk and of course details will appear in the next edition of Scottish Banker which is due in early August.
Weekly examinations continue to take place throughout the UK in respect of the Diploma, Certificate and RQF final examinations. Good luck to all who are sitting a final exam this week.
As we are now in the middle of July the holiday season is in full swing and I am sure that many of you will be jetting off soon.
Next month sees the start of the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe festival a busy time for Auld Reekie. Are any of you out there planning to be in Edinburgh during that time? Maybe a first visit to Scotland? Please drop an email to support@ciobsacademy.org.uk and let us know.
I am not sure if Raymond is doing his one man show this year or not or if Wee Pete is on at the fringe. I will post details soon!
Well I will get on with things now. Have a great week one and all and we will speak again later in the week.
Michael
I see that Raymond has been keeping busy while I was away and I noticed the reference to wee Pete. I thought he was actually 3 foot 6 ,but hey, the Blog is the place to learn from.
As always there is plenty going on here at CIOBS as one examination diet passes and the results issued then preparations are in the place for the next one. Revision days and Chat rooms for the next diet are also in place, further details of these can be found at www.ciobs.org.uk and of course details will appear in the next edition of Scottish Banker which is due in early August.
Weekly examinations continue to take place throughout the UK in respect of the Diploma, Certificate and RQF final examinations. Good luck to all who are sitting a final exam this week.
As we are now in the middle of July the holiday season is in full swing and I am sure that many of you will be jetting off soon.
Next month sees the start of the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe festival a busy time for Auld Reekie. Are any of you out there planning to be in Edinburgh during that time? Maybe a first visit to Scotland? Please drop an email to support@ciobsacademy.org.uk and let us know.
I am not sure if Raymond is doing his one man show this year or not or if Wee Pete is on at the fringe. I will post details soon!
Well I will get on with things now. Have a great week one and all and we will speak again later in the week.
Michael
Friday, 13 July 2007
Euro Blog
This is only a humble little blog, but I can exclusively reveal that it's fame has now reached mainland Europe!
I understand that an Angoran goat herder who trails across the Andalucian Sierra Nevada is now a keen fan! (All right, all right, I told my son who lives in Barcelona to log on!). Had you going though!
Over the next week or so, one of my colleagues, the great Peter Moir (imaginatively known as Wee Pete - he's only 3' 4"), is hoping to publish all the exam papers and solutions for the Spring 2007 examination diet, This has two purposes - firstly, it allows those preparing for examinations to get a 'flavour' of the type of questions asked by the Examiners. Secondly, it allows those who sat in April / May, especially anyone who failed an exam, to see what was expected of them.
What else is new? Well, for those anxiously awaiting their Financial Crime textbook, the wait is almost over. We now have them in stock and they will be going out ASAP! Oh, yeah and my podcast exploits are progressing nicely, so watch (listen!) out!!
Have a fab weekend - for those going holiday, ENJOY. For those coming back from their hols, bet you can't wait for Monday!!
Raymond
I understand that an Angoran goat herder who trails across the Andalucian Sierra Nevada is now a keen fan! (All right, all right, I told my son who lives in Barcelona to log on!). Had you going though!
Over the next week or so, one of my colleagues, the great Peter Moir (imaginatively known as Wee Pete - he's only 3' 4"), is hoping to publish all the exam papers and solutions for the Spring 2007 examination diet, This has two purposes - firstly, it allows those preparing for examinations to get a 'flavour' of the type of questions asked by the Examiners. Secondly, it allows those who sat in April / May, especially anyone who failed an exam, to see what was expected of them.
What else is new? Well, for those anxiously awaiting their Financial Crime textbook, the wait is almost over. We now have them in stock and they will be going out ASAP! Oh, yeah and my podcast exploits are progressing nicely, so watch (listen!) out!!
Have a fab weekend - for those going holiday, ENJOY. For those coming back from their hols, bet you can't wait for Monday!!
Raymond
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
A Blog a Day.
Good afternoon,
Yes I know it's late and I know it's five days since the last entry, but what can you do?
What with the bold Downey still on holiday, I have to carry the Academy on my shoulders by myself!
Incredibly it's Wednesday (nearly Thursday) already. This week my focus has been on completing some revision materials for use by teachers and pupils who will be undertaking the Certificate in Financial Services - didn't you know about that? Yes, incredible as this may have seemed a few years ago, we now have school pupils in 5th and 6th years all over Scotland doing a professional qualification prior to leaving school. Smart or what! Want to know more? Just follow this link. http://www.ciobs.org.uk/about/what_schools.cfm
I'm also looking at trying to get our bulk emails system to work properly so that I can 'bug' all our members in another format!! I would also like to see if we can get podcasting - the scope for the use of podcasts is enormous, so I must have a bash (if that's the right phrase!). Other than that, for me it's been a question of keeping on top of the student emails and phone calls etc.
Right - I must go, but I'll be back soon!
Raymond
Oops, nearly forgot - did you know that if Robert the Bruce had still been alive, he would have been 733 today!!
Yes I know it's late and I know it's five days since the last entry, but what can you do?
What with the bold Downey still on holiday, I have to carry the Academy on my shoulders by myself!
Incredibly it's Wednesday (nearly Thursday) already. This week my focus has been on completing some revision materials for use by teachers and pupils who will be undertaking the Certificate in Financial Services - didn't you know about that? Yes, incredible as this may have seemed a few years ago, we now have school pupils in 5th and 6th years all over Scotland doing a professional qualification prior to leaving school. Smart or what! Want to know more? Just follow this link. http://www.ciobs.org.uk/about/what_schools.cfm
I'm also looking at trying to get our bulk emails system to work properly so that I can 'bug' all our members in another format!! I would also like to see if we can get podcasting - the scope for the use of podcasts is enormous, so I must have a bash (if that's the right phrase!). Other than that, for me it's been a question of keeping on top of the student emails and phone calls etc.
Right - I must go, but I'll be back soon!
Raymond
Oops, nearly forgot - did you know that if Robert the Bruce had still been alive, he would have been 733 today!!
Friday, 6 July 2007
Things Couldn't Have Got Worse............
Good afternoon all,
And welcome to another little update. There are some days, little things happen which make you feel like you wish you had stayed in bed. (no, not every day!)
Today was one!
Firstly, every one of the 354 sets of traffic lights I need to go through were at red. Then to make matters worse, when I parked the car for the 17 mile walk to the office, it was absolutely pouring down. Could things get any worse? YES!
I had my regular performance appraisal with the Director of Education and Deputy Chief Executive, Mr Colin Morrison. I suggested that my current performance when measured against my Key Objectives should result in a salary increase of c. £10,000. He suggested that I should immediately start looking at Situations Vacant!!
However things did slowly improve. I finished my Scottish Banker article and sent it off to the editors - they sent it back stating that 23 words didn't count as an article. Whatever!
The Revision Course programme for the Autumn diet is however now complete and this will be put on to the website on Monday or Tuesday, so at least something went right!! So for any students out there who are planning their studies, you can find out when all the courses are scheduled to run and get organised.
That's it, I've had enough for one week - I bet you have too!
Have a good one!
Raymond
And welcome to another little update. There are some days, little things happen which make you feel like you wish you had stayed in bed. (no, not every day!)
Today was one!
Firstly, every one of the 354 sets of traffic lights I need to go through were at red. Then to make matters worse, when I parked the car for the 17 mile walk to the office, it was absolutely pouring down. Could things get any worse? YES!
I had my regular performance appraisal with the Director of Education and Deputy Chief Executive, Mr Colin Morrison. I suggested that my current performance when measured against my Key Objectives should result in a salary increase of c. £10,000. He suggested that I should immediately start looking at Situations Vacant!!
However things did slowly improve. I finished my Scottish Banker article and sent it off to the editors - they sent it back stating that 23 words didn't count as an article. Whatever!
The Revision Course programme for the Autumn diet is however now complete and this will be put on to the website on Monday or Tuesday, so at least something went right!! So for any students out there who are planning their studies, you can find out when all the courses are scheduled to run and get organised.
That's it, I've had enough for one week - I bet you have too!
Have a good one!
Raymond
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
One of Those Days
Hi Folks,
I'm sure there is someone out there, isn't there? Otherwise what a complete waste of time this has been!
On the assumption there is (somebody out there), what's new at the CIOBS? Quite frankly, it's all a little bit hum drum today. Not that we're not all busy - of course we are, that's a given, but as far as real detail goes....
Tomorrow though, I need to write an article for Scottish Banker magazine, hopefully to be published in the next edition in August - it's all about what the CIOBS Academy does, so I must ask around this afternoon and see if anyone knows!
As you are both aware (Hello Mum and her friend!), Michael is on holiday - lucky old chap! Maybe why that's why life somehow seems to have lost just a little of its usual effervescence - and then again!
Anyway, just to finish off, here are a couple of pedagogical (great word that isn't it - I always feel semi-bright when I use it!) sayings! Quite appropriate for any lecturers (including Michael) to take cognisance of!
I am always ready to learn, but I do not always like being taught.
Sir Winston Churchill
He who dares to teach must never cease to learn.
Richard Henry Dann
Enjoy your day - I am convinced that the next post will be a real humdinger!!!!!!!!
Miss it at your peril.
Raymond
I'm sure there is someone out there, isn't there? Otherwise what a complete waste of time this has been!
On the assumption there is (somebody out there), what's new at the CIOBS? Quite frankly, it's all a little bit hum drum today. Not that we're not all busy - of course we are, that's a given, but as far as real detail goes....
Tomorrow though, I need to write an article for Scottish Banker magazine, hopefully to be published in the next edition in August - it's all about what the CIOBS Academy does, so I must ask around this afternoon and see if anyone knows!
As you are both aware (Hello Mum and her friend!), Michael is on holiday - lucky old chap! Maybe why that's why life somehow seems to have lost just a little of its usual effervescence - and then again!
Anyway, just to finish off, here are a couple of pedagogical (great word that isn't it - I always feel semi-bright when I use it!) sayings! Quite appropriate for any lecturers (including Michael) to take cognisance of!
I am always ready to learn, but I do not always like being taught.
Sir Winston Churchill
He who dares to teach must never cease to learn.
Richard Henry Dann
Enjoy your day - I am convinced that the next post will be a real humdinger!!!!!!!!
Miss it at your peril.
Raymond
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
