Hi there,
It has been a rather interesting week in the land of Drumsheugh. In addition to the usual round of meetings and supporting students as they strive towards academic greatness, we have had some strange goings on.
Last Friday saw the CIOBS annual barbecue take place. Nothing strange happened at that I suppose, however there was a bit of excitement at the end when we tried to take the gazebos down - no that is not a party game- this was serious stuff and in the end Chris Finlay of CIOBS took the bull by the horns - no that is not a party game either - and we managed to complete the task!
Earlier that day the well known T.V. personality Gok Wan, yes, he of "How to Look Good Naked" fame was spotted in the Drumsheugh area. He was in Edinburgh on festival duty and he signed a couple of autographs for CIOBS staff.
Thanks for that Gok.
Gok (I know this all sounds rather matey!) was accompanied by Sherrie Hewson, a presenter of Loose Woman and a former Coronation Street and Emmerdale star.
Unfortunately they didn't come to the barbecue as they had to be back in London that evening or so Sherrie said. (This is becoming too matey now!)
Just a reminder that our office will be closed on Thursday as we are off to Livingston. I am in the team that will be attending to the duck pond.
I hope there are no gazebos to be fixed!
As I have mentioned in previous blogs and in various other places, the Chartered Banker and related Diploma examinations are already or soon will be on-line. All students enrolled for a particular subject that is not on-line at present will be notified when their subject is due to go on-line.
The previously published dates for the October/ November 2008 diet no longer apply.
Examinations will be available on a weekly basis at various centres throughout the U.K.
Special arrangements are in place for students sitting examinations outwith the U.K.
Raymond returns to duty next Monday having missed the excitement of last week and indeed the excitement that tomorrow's event should bring.
Welcome back Raymond. I am sure you have missed us.
Michael ( There's no business like show business)
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
A Positive Bank Holiday Special
Hello and welcome to the CIOBS blog. Following on from last week's tales, I can confirm that Raymond has departed to a better place.
The great man is now enjoying his annual vacation at a secret location. He could be somewhere near you as I write and, all I will say is there is a sporting theme behind his choice of destination.
"That narrows it down then Michael"
I should add that Raymond left an apple in his drawer and he very kindly contacted me prior to his departure and invited me to have it.
How kind.
No doubt I will receive a bill on his return.
I am pleased to announce that the weekly news podcast has returned, however, that dreaded word recession pops up this week. The podcast can be found here:
http://www.ciobs.org.uk/about/what_podcasts.cfm#cbconf
Life here at CIOBS continues without Raymond and its business as usual.
September will see many courses running including RQF and Introductory days.
Various updates have been issued to the RQF subjects and these will be examinable from 1st October 2008. All students studying RQF subjects will have been notified of these changes recently.
Full details of these updates can be found here:
http://www.ciobs.org.uk/qualifications/downloads.cfm
The latest edition of Scottish Banker should be with all members by now. If you are not a member and you are interested in receiving a copy, then please email me at:
Michael@ciobs.org.uk
while travelling to work this morning "A thought for the day" came on the car radio. The speaker stated it was all about reaction and then rattled off a catalogue of disasters that had happened to him recently and he told the listeners how he reacted positively to all of this.
As I waited for the bus at the park and ride it was announced that it would be 20 minutes late - no problem said I - Thinking of the earlier broadcast.
A fellow passenger treated this delay as if it was the end of the world and it was interesting to watch his reaction!
I wonder how the rest of his day went?
Mine went very well thanks.
Thank you to the broadcaster!
The CIOBS Office here at Drumsheugh Gardens will be closed on Thursday 28th August. The team will be taking part in a charity volunteering event at the Almond Valley Heritage Centre in Livingston.
I am advised that the activities are landscaping a duck pond or repairing a Go Cart track.
How will I react to this? More news next week.
I hope you enjoy the bank holiday weekend and all your reactions are positive!
Michael (A radio ham)
The great man is now enjoying his annual vacation at a secret location. He could be somewhere near you as I write and, all I will say is there is a sporting theme behind his choice of destination.
"That narrows it down then Michael"
I should add that Raymond left an apple in his drawer and he very kindly contacted me prior to his departure and invited me to have it.
How kind.
No doubt I will receive a bill on his return.
I am pleased to announce that the weekly news podcast has returned, however, that dreaded word recession pops up this week. The podcast can be found here:
http://www.ciobs.org.uk/about/what_podcasts.cfm#cbconf
Life here at CIOBS continues without Raymond and its business as usual.
September will see many courses running including RQF and Introductory days.
Various updates have been issued to the RQF subjects and these will be examinable from 1st October 2008. All students studying RQF subjects will have been notified of these changes recently.
Full details of these updates can be found here:
http://www.ciobs.org.uk/qualifications/downloads.cfm
The latest edition of Scottish Banker should be with all members by now. If you are not a member and you are interested in receiving a copy, then please email me at:
Michael@ciobs.org.uk
while travelling to work this morning "A thought for the day" came on the car radio. The speaker stated it was all about reaction and then rattled off a catalogue of disasters that had happened to him recently and he told the listeners how he reacted positively to all of this.
As I waited for the bus at the park and ride it was announced that it would be 20 minutes late - no problem said I - Thinking of the earlier broadcast.
A fellow passenger treated this delay as if it was the end of the world and it was interesting to watch his reaction!
I wonder how the rest of his day went?
Mine went very well thanks.
Thank you to the broadcaster!
The CIOBS Office here at Drumsheugh Gardens will be closed on Thursday 28th August. The team will be taking part in a charity volunteering event at the Almond Valley Heritage Centre in Livingston.
I am advised that the activities are landscaping a duck pond or repairing a Go Cart track.
How will I react to this? More news next week.
I hope you enjoy the bank holiday weekend and all your reactions are positive!
Michael (A radio ham)
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
Interesting Times
Hi and welcome to another midweek CIOBS blog.
I had an interesting start to the week on Sunday when in the company of John Needham a council member of CIOBS, I attended a Festival Service at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. We were joined by representatives of many other organisations in this celebration of the 62nd Edinburgh International Festival.
The Cathedral was full of all sorts of VIPs and me!
Each organisation was "protected" during the procession by one of the High Constables of Edinburgh. Our protector was a world War One veteran and he carried a baton. He told me it was ceremonial. The event passed off peacefully and the baton was not used for any other purpose.
I was very impressed by the number of people lining the streets and also by the number of people taking photographs. Goodness knows what sort of websites these photographs might appear in!
You might notice that there is no podcast this week, but rest assured your favourite method of catching up on all the business news from home and abroad will be back in its usual place next Thursday.
We probably need a rest from from some of the recent gloom and doom anyway. So I will just mention a couple of newsworthy items here in the blog.
The pound has sunk to 22-month low against the dollar after the Bank of England's inflation report warned the UK could be heading for a recession.
The US economy is still suffering from the credit crisis but analysts say the deteriorating outlook elsewhere in the world has buoyed the currency's standing.
So a glimmer of hope there.
So with the Edinburgh Festival in full swing and the Olympics taking place. I am sure you are asking"Where is Raymond?" Is he competing in China or Performing in Edinburgh?"
Well, the answer is no on both counts.
I can exclusively reveal that as the schools here in Scotland get ready to return after the long summer break and with everyone else at CIOBS looking forward to the Autumn and the various events in the calendar, the great man is preparing to jet off to somewhere interesting.
Have a good break Raymond and do not worry about anything here at CIOBS. I will look after the place when you are away.
That's put him in a panic. Will he go or will he stay?
Tune in to next week's blog and I shall let you know.
And finally a little holiday tale with a financial services touch to finish this week
Jimmy and Mona are flying to Australia for a holiday to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Suddenly, over the public address system, the Captain announces," Ladies and Gentlemen, I am afraid I have some very bad news.
Our engines have ceased functioning and we will attempt an emergency landing. Luckily, I see an uncharted island below us and we should be able to land on the beach. However, the odds are that we may never be rescued and will have to live on the island for the rest of our lives!"
The plane lands safely on the island.
An hour later Jimmy turns to his wife and asks, "Mona, did we pay our Bank Master card bill yet?""Oh no! I'm sorry. I forgot to send the cheque," she says.
"One other thing, Mona. Did you remember to send a cheque for the car loan to the finance company this month?" he asks.
"No I didn't send that one, either."
Jimmy grabs her and gives her the biggest hug in 40 years.
Mona pulls away and asks him, "So, why did you hug me?"
Jimmy answers, "They'll find us!!!!"
I had an interesting start to the week on Sunday when in the company of John Needham a council member of CIOBS, I attended a Festival Service at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. We were joined by representatives of many other organisations in this celebration of the 62nd Edinburgh International Festival.
The Cathedral was full of all sorts of VIPs and me!
Each organisation was "protected" during the procession by one of the High Constables of Edinburgh. Our protector was a world War One veteran and he carried a baton. He told me it was ceremonial. The event passed off peacefully and the baton was not used for any other purpose.
I was very impressed by the number of people lining the streets and also by the number of people taking photographs. Goodness knows what sort of websites these photographs might appear in!
You might notice that there is no podcast this week, but rest assured your favourite method of catching up on all the business news from home and abroad will be back in its usual place next Thursday.
We probably need a rest from from some of the recent gloom and doom anyway. So I will just mention a couple of newsworthy items here in the blog.
The pound has sunk to 22-month low against the dollar after the Bank of England's inflation report warned the UK could be heading for a recession.
The US economy is still suffering from the credit crisis but analysts say the deteriorating outlook elsewhere in the world has buoyed the currency's standing.
So a glimmer of hope there.
So with the Edinburgh Festival in full swing and the Olympics taking place. I am sure you are asking"Where is Raymond?" Is he competing in China or Performing in Edinburgh?"
Well, the answer is no on both counts.
I can exclusively reveal that as the schools here in Scotland get ready to return after the long summer break and with everyone else at CIOBS looking forward to the Autumn and the various events in the calendar, the great man is preparing to jet off to somewhere interesting.
Have a good break Raymond and do not worry about anything here at CIOBS. I will look after the place when you are away.
That's put him in a panic. Will he go or will he stay?
Tune in to next week's blog and I shall let you know.
And finally a little holiday tale with a financial services touch to finish this week
Jimmy and Mona are flying to Australia for a holiday to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Suddenly, over the public address system, the Captain announces," Ladies and Gentlemen, I am afraid I have some very bad news.
Our engines have ceased functioning and we will attempt an emergency landing. Luckily, I see an uncharted island below us and we should be able to land on the beach. However, the odds are that we may never be rescued and will have to live on the island for the rest of our lives!"
The plane lands safely on the island.
An hour later Jimmy turns to his wife and asks, "Mona, did we pay our Bank Master card bill yet?""Oh no! I'm sorry. I forgot to send the cheque," she says.
"One other thing, Mona. Did you remember to send a cheque for the car loan to the finance company this month?" he asks.
"No I didn't send that one, either."
Jimmy grabs her and gives her the biggest hug in 40 years.
Mona pulls away and asks him, "So, why did you hug me?"
Jimmy answers, "They'll find us!!!!"
Oh well, back to work for me.
Michael (I hope I find you well)
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
Midweek Mania
Hi and welcome to a midweek edition of the CIOBS blog.
I am writing this from a secret location in the West of Scotland - If it's good enough for Raymond Brown...........
I would rather be doing it from the West of the Bahamas or somewhere where the sun is shining.
Both myself and the aforementioned Mr.B. have been in the classroom this week. Doing a bit of teaching if you please and what a pleasure it has been.
We have been running Apex 1 revision courses for both the 2004 and 2007 versions.
This keeps you on your toes, remembering which version you are doing and ensuring that you are not repeating yourself - Perish the thought! Perish the thought!
I promised to keep you up to date in respect of Chartered Banker and related Diplomas with regard to the introduction of on-line examinations.
The most recent subjects to become available on line - are: Private Banking & Wealth Management, Retail Banking (Scots Law) and Retail Banking (English Law)
Specimen papers for each of the on-line exams will be available via the Downloads section of the website as soon as these become available, so please check regularly!
We will continue to keep you advised of the progress regarding the on-line examinations via the CIOBS Forum and and those students enrolled for a relevant subject, via email.
Further sayings from office meetings.
A manager declared "I've another arm up my sleeve."
And a manager who described any new technology as "state of the ark."
A reader from Glasgow tells us she keeps amused during office meetings by collecting the sayings of a colleague, which so far have included:
I call an ace an ace.
It is a chicken and hen scenario.
It is man eat man out there.
Keep them coming please.
Michael (I call a spade a bucket)
I am writing this from a secret location in the West of Scotland - If it's good enough for Raymond Brown...........
I would rather be doing it from the West of the Bahamas or somewhere where the sun is shining.
Both myself and the aforementioned Mr.B. have been in the classroom this week. Doing a bit of teaching if you please and what a pleasure it has been.
We have been running Apex 1 revision courses for both the 2004 and 2007 versions.
This keeps you on your toes, remembering which version you are doing and ensuring that you are not repeating yourself - Perish the thought! Perish the thought!
I promised to keep you up to date in respect of Chartered Banker and related Diplomas with regard to the introduction of on-line examinations.
The most recent subjects to become available on line - are: Private Banking & Wealth Management, Retail Banking (Scots Law) and Retail Banking (English Law)
Specimen papers for each of the on-line exams will be available via the Downloads section of the website as soon as these become available, so please check regularly!
We will continue to keep you advised of the progress regarding the on-line examinations via the CIOBS Forum and and those students enrolled for a relevant subject, via email.
Further sayings from office meetings.
A manager declared "I've another arm up my sleeve."
And a manager who described any new technology as "state of the ark."
A reader from Glasgow tells us she keeps amused during office meetings by collecting the sayings of a colleague, which so far have included:
I call an ace an ace.
It is a chicken and hen scenario.
It is man eat man out there.
Keep them coming please.
Michael (I call a spade a bucket)
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