Comrades of the Khyber

We are trying to pull together various pieces of work that Our Lords And Masters have wished upon us in dribs and drabs over the past few weeks. We have learned over the years the value of getting round a pot of tea every so often and sifting through the jigsaw puzzles. It takes us no great time at all to discover that three of us have been asked to do the same piece of work in different ways and that Frog's been asked to run an event at Milkbeck Library (because "they've not had one lately) on the same day as has Bronwyn (because "they've not had one lately"). There are a few others in a similar vein. We do what we can to disentangle the mess without actually laying ourselves open to charges of insubordination. A review of the resources being made available to us for the delivery of these activities (to wit: none) is quick and dispiriting.

"I keep being told by Policy Team that we need to be taking more responsibility," I mention in passing.

"Strange that. I keep being told that," says Maybelle.

That noise you're hearing is a group of people sitting round a table not asking out loud if Policy Team is planning on taking a lead on taking any responsibility any time soon.