June 2019 - The MrT Podcast Studio

Watercress People (2)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:59 — 15.5MB)

Episode 18 – Life on the Watercress Line – Watercress People (2)

Welcome to Watercress People (2), where I have the opportunity to interview some of the people who make the Watercress Line happen – when you and visit.

My first interview in Watercress People (2) is with David Mead who has been involved since the early days after British Rail closed the line in the 1970s.

I then talk to Steve Crowther, the Chair of the Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society about how she became involved. Steve is also the Station Master at Alresford Station and we discuss the professionalism of the team.

I then get to talk to Jim Russell in the signal box at Alresford about the two carriage Hampshire Unit. I learn that this unit was one of the last trains to run on the line before closure by British Rail.

The final interview in Watercress People (2) is with David Meade about his role in the Ticket Office and also how he manages ticket stocks.

There are no photographs to accompany this episode.

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in two weeks.

You can also listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts (iTunes), Spotify and Stitcher.

The theme music Steam Railway used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music. Incidental music, Crossover – Lectro Tango, is by Joseph McDade.

The ‘Watercress Line’ logo is used with permission from the Mid-Hants Railway.

Testing – Your Big Project

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:22 — 9.5MB)

Your Big Project – Series 1 Episode 11 – Testing

Welcome to Testing, talk eleven in the series ‘Your Big Project‘. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!

Testing, properly carried out, is essential if your project is to have any chance of success. Far too often people skimp on testing as by the time it comes around the project is behind schedule. This has disastrous results. Skimping on testing can kill your successful business.

Problems include:

A belief that testing is a task for others
Testing is an IT exercise – it isn’t
The JFDIs are impatient and want their implementation bonus
We can sort out the mess after go-live

Anyone who believes in any of the above is not fit to be in the business. Such attitudes create disasters that the destroy years of building successful companies – in days.

Testing shows how well your training is working. It may highlight changes that you need to make.

Testing must be thorough, complete and everything must work properly before you sign off.

Please click on the link below to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:

Click here to access presentation 11 – Testing

The talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.

I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.

This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.

Join me in two weeks for episode twelve of Talking Business – Your Big Project.

Lifestyles is the theme music and is licensed from AKM Music.

Christmas Leave (2)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:03 — 12.9MB)

Episode 17 – Life on the Watercress Line – Christmas Leave (2)

Welcome to Christmas Leave (2), where I have the opportunity to travel with servicemen and their families at Christmas. Some are travelling back to base and others are going home for a few days.

There are all types of people in Christmas Leave (2), in addition to the military I meet the entertainer at Alresford, a black marketeer, the police and many others.

I get the opportunity to talk to some of the passengers who are out for the day. Some of the story takes place on the train and other parts at Ropley and Alresford stations.

If you enjoy this podcast please visit the Watercress Line on the weekend of 15th/16th June 2019 for War on the Line. This year commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the D Day landings. There will be lots to see at the stations and a regular train service. Full details on the Watercress Line website – click here.

Please click on a thumbnail to open the gallery:

To visit the Watercress Line website please follow this link Watercress Line.

The next episode of Life on the Watercress Line is in two weeks.

You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher.

The theme and incidental music, Steam Railway, used in this podcast is licensed from AKM Music.

Training – Your Big Project

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:11 — 20.3MB)

Your Big Project – Series 1 Episode 10 – Training

Welcome to Training, talk Ten in the series ‘Your Big Project‘. Hopefully this series of podcasts will improve the chances of success for your project. We always consider the good, the bad and the extremely ugly!

You need to have excellent training if your project is to have any chance of success. Far too often people skimp on training with disastrous results. Skimping on training can kill a successful business.

Problems include:

Boring training material – people are turned off
Material does not explain the Why properly – this results in no buy in
People don’t understand the importance of ‘Best Practice’
Training is not seen as a critical activity – even seen as optional

You need to ensure that everyone involved in the project can deliver the material effectively. This includes you! If you can’t use the system properly you’ll have no ‘street cred’.

Lots of practical work is essential to show future users the look and feel of the system – it is essential that they can use it. Test people’s ability to use the system. Fail those who don’t pass the tests. Failures must not use the system.

Please click on the link to access the .PDF slide pack for this talk:

Click on the link to view presentation 10 – Training

The talk is based on the experience I have gained through my involvement in a number of systems projects. I hope that you find it useful.

I hope that you gain ideas from the successes and failures of others and that you have a life changing success.

This series of podcasts is also available through iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify and Stitcher.

Join me in two weeks for episode ten of Talking Business – Your Big Project.

Lifestyles is the theme music and is licensed from AKM Music.