Tag Archives: Minsk

June 6, 2010

It’s a small world?

By Tim GARRATT

I blogged last year about Minsk and an offer I had to go in late January. For various reasons I was unable to – most due to work commitments. Although such overseas trips involve ‘work’ I do have a day job – which by all accounts is pretty much UK based.

Nottingham in Ningbo

I am still fascinated by Univest’s proposals to create a district for 21,000 people – the work is anticipated to start this year. You can read all about the proposals here. It looks an amazing scheme. The only downside is that it’s quite cold there in the winter! The scale of these projects amazes me.

At MIPIM this year (also ‘work’!) we met up with the Mayor and his Officers from Krasnodar – and that too looks a fascinating place. We have a strategic alliance with them – and again, it is somewhere I would like to see. In particular the architecture is fantastic. Krasnodar are looking for help from UK professionals as they grow their City. It is hoped that the City will have a trip there later in the year. We were certainly made to feel welcome when we met up at MIPIM.

But my latest invite is to the Shanghai Expo at the end of August. The first World Expo was held in the UK at Crystal Palace. The UK have a Pavilion at the Expo – which looks stunning (as indeed do most of the pavilions). Nottingham are taking a delegation – which also includes a trip to Ningbo and the University of Nottinghams ‘twin’ campus. It’s a long way to go, but is very tempting, especially to see the University. They have invited me several times, but I have never really had the reason to go.

Is this it? I will let you know…

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Business, MIPIM 2010, Nottingham

December 31, 2009

2009 – a year in review

By Tim GARRATT

I think as you get older the years just seem to fly by much quicker. But looking back on 2009 as the year draws to a close, I tried to think through the highs and lows of the year. On reflection, many more highs than lows I think. Which can only be a good thing! So here goes:

High Points

1. A great weekend in September at St Andrews celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We stayed in an amazing hotel overlooking the 18th hole at the Old Course. Where did 25 years go? St Andrews is a magical place – I can’t believe we had not discovered it earlier. It helps if you like golf…

St Andrews - and the 18th hole on the Old Course

2. Our son Jack getting 8 GCSE’s and a place at Confetti. This despite his Dyslexia. And then Jade getting a hard-earned place at TeachFirst and working in two challenging schools. Adam worked on another film – the details of which I will spare you, but if I said it was an NHS Information film – that’s enough of a clue!

Jack, Jade and Adam - in the Summer.

3. Lesley and I seeing The Killers at Madison Square Garden (New York) in January. Quite a long way to go to see a gig but they were just brilliant – and then we came home and saw them again at The Arena in Nottingham. Musically the Isle of Wight featured in the calendar again – and was great – especially the infamous toilets & showers… I wasn’t sure about Neil Young though!

The Killers play Madison Square Garden NYC

4. The opening of the Abel Collins ‘Drury Bungalows’ in November – at the end of a three year stint! I think they are great and four couples will move in shortly! The Sheriff of Nottingham and his Lady did us proud on the day – and I think the bungalows are brilliant! Designed by Marsh Grochowski they are ‘of their time’! High green credentials make them highly energy efficient.

The Abel Collins Almshouses - Drury Bungalows

5. My trip with the Sheriff of Nottingham to the USA in September – to research World Class attractions. We visited six cities in 10 days, flying 12,500 miles. It was exhausting but informative – and there was some fun along the way. Highlights – Segway riding, The Experience Music Project in Seattle, Getty Museum in LA, Alcatraz, The High Line in New York and Little Boots in concert – and much more!

The USA tour team - at Top of the Rocks NYC

6. Seeing Jack play his first gig as part of the Hockley Hustle 2009. They were great (I may be a bit biased). That all of their friends turned up was just great to see.

Jack playing drums in his first gig

7. A great holiday in Dartmouth – including an interesting two days sailing – more so for me than Jack – who was none too well! It may have been something he ate – or could it have been the force 7/8 gale?

Dartmouth

Dartmouth Harbour

8. The celebrations in Paris for our friends John & Denise celebrating their 50th birthdays! They are getting old and I am one of the babies of the group. Good to see the gang growing old disgracefully – long may it continue.

The NHR gang do Paris in the Spring!

Low Points

Seeing Nick Hammond and Nick Lewis leave Castle College – both loyal clients over 17 years, but also really nice people & people I regard as friends. I do expect both of them to make returns in 2010!

Nick Hammond in LA (on the right.. in case you wondered)

And that’s it. I wonder what 2010 will bring – hopefully the same split again – or preferably no low points. But already things to look forward to – Minsk in January?, Skiing in February, MIPIM in March and at some point New York (again). I have also agreed to help the Bromley House Library look at the possibility of building an extension / upgrading the wonderful facilities they have!

Lots to look forward to then…. Happy New Year!!

1 comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Business, MIPIM 2010, Nottingham, Robin Hood

December 28, 2009

Never wrestle a pig….

By Tim GARRATT

“I learned long ago never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and tired whereas the pig likes it“. The quote has been attributed to many people – George Bernard Shaw, Cyrus Ching and Creighton Abrams.

Pig looking forward to a fight...


I had forgotten it until a few days ago – when I got into a ‘discussion’ with an anonymous ‘reader’ of the Nottingham Evening Post – on-line version. You can read the exchange here. It was about the story I blogged about a few days ago – an opportunity to work in Minsk.

I was slightly disappointed that readers could be so negative and prejudiced about a potentially positive story for Nottingham. Their ‘beef’ was that this was a ‘jolly’ or that there was some ‘communist connection’. I had tried to point out some facts – but quickly realised that their views were pretty much ingrained and unlikely to alter. That some of the comments are wildly inaccurate is just frustrating – trying to explain is really a waste of time.

I think the idea of social media is really exciting (hence my blog, twitter etc.) – and it is great that we can get a story validated / commented upon in real time. But the art is sifting the drivel and prejudice from the fact or interesting viewpoint.

Most of the argument was with B J Mann who starts most of his comments with “Errrrrrrrrrmmmmmmm”! He wants to see me in Court as I have something to hide about how my trip will be funded. For some reason he thinks he is paying for me. As I act for some public sector organisations he pays….That’s a bit like me asking the Police not to stop me for speeding as I pay their wages. His arguments ran out when he finished his rant explaining that he licked cows bottoms – the comment has since been moderated (i.e. removed).

Someone called ‘M’ in Gedling said – “i wonder which council freeloaders will be going on this jolly ? i bet the mayor will , and he will probably come back and ask the EP readers for advice just like the usa jaunt“. As far as I can see there are no Councillors going on the trip to Minsk. It was the Sheriff who went to the USA – not the Mayor. Asking for ideas on our return was to include as many ideas as possible – damned if you do and damned if you don’t?

If you get into a discussion – as I did – there is a point that you need to realise that you are fighting a pig (metaphorically speaking) – and gently retire to a safe distance! Preferably before you get tired and dirty…

Note to self – don’t waste you time in future!

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Business, Grumpy Old Man!, Nottingham, Robin Hood

December 23, 2009

An interesting opportunity in Russia for 2010?

By Tim GARRATT

I have been invited to join a delegation to Minsk in Belarus in late January 2010. Nottingham has been twinned with Minsk since 1957. It sounds a really interesting opportunity…

The skating rink at Minsk - courtesy Oleg Babinets


Minsk have some amazing proposals to create a new ‘residential compound’ which is the called Nottingham! They are looking to build housing for 21,000 residents, schools, healthcare facilities, shops, and offices. By all accounts this looks impressive!

Their masterplan document sets out their rationale, “Nottingham is associated with British traditions, featuring stability, respectful attitude to the history of the homeland, high levels of public socialisation and strive for living in harmony with the environment”. Some of the themes might be lost a little in translation – but they clearly have respect for our history.

What is really interesting (and a suggestion from Mark Hobson at Mabers) is that Nottingham may put together a team who can collaborate on providing Minsk with building expertise. I think this is a really good idea – we have an enormous amount of expertise locally and are used to working together. But this suggestion may try to go further than this – actually creating a consortium. The consortium looks likely to include Agents, Architects, Engineers, QS’s and Investors. It may also include some of our education establishments (Colleges and Universities).

GDP growth in Belarus has been just shy of 10% year on year. They also have a large manufacturing base – Minsk Tractor Plant employ 30,000 people – by comparison Raleigh in Nottingham employed 7,000 at its height of production in the 1960′s.

The first trip does coincide with their rather cold snap – the record low in January is -39 C. And in the light of the timescale I am not sure my Russian is going to be much further along! It is interesting to note that 73.7% of schoolchildren there are learning English.

There is another interesting connection – on 29th May in each year they celebrate Spring Day – when they have fairs and celebrate the capture of Robin Hood! I must confess to not knowing that! But another connection to Robin Hood for the City!

Our first job might be to find a Russian word to replace ‘compound’…

UPDATE 7th JANUARY 2010

I have decided, in consultation with my fellow Directors not to go on this delegation to Minsk. This is partly due to pressures on my diary, but also that we have been offered a similar opportunity in Krasnador. The latter town is likely to enter a strategic PArtnership with Nottingham in March. We are keen to offer our expertise to Minsk and will monitor the opportunity. I am really keen to see if we can become part of a Nottingham Consortium of Consultants. Such collaborative working is starting to look like how the world will operate in the next decade?

7 comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Business, Green stuff, MIPIM 2010, Nottingham, Robin Hood

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