Feeling particularly energised during a conversation with a client yesterday, the words Carpe Diem (seize the day) popped into my mind. Simple words. But put them together and they create something bold and confident. They inspire and uplift. Amazing how words can do that.  

Written almost 2000 years ago by the Latin poet, Horace, the Carpe Diem line in its full expression, includes quam minimum credula postero – ‘put little trust in tomorrow'. It's about taking action for the future today because 'the present' is all we can be sure of. Adding my own interpretation, it represents having the presence of mind to act, to 'catch the wave' because the opportunity - these set of circumstances - may never come again. Just thinking about the words evokes feelings of optimism. I literally straighten my back!

 Last night Sally Magnussen met Henning Mankell and in doing so brought the topic of dementia into our collective social consciousness. They didn't actually meet in person. At least not as far as I know, but they came together as part of my Saturday night viewing, and I cried during both shows. 

The first was watching Sally read extracts from her deeply moving book - 'Where Memories Go' - at The Borders Book Festival in Melrose. The second was a couple of hours later when I watched  Krister Henriksson play the iconic Swedish detective, Kurt Wallander on TV who had just received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (9pm BBC4).

Sally, the daughter of the esteemed (late) Journalist and TV presenter Magnus Magnussen,

 What are the five questions you ask yourself as you embark on a major change for service improvement? This was the question that RCN Scotland asked me to address when they invited me to take part in the 'Expert Express' session at their 'Activists Conference' last week. It was a great question!

The thing I value most about being asked to speak at such events is that to articulate my view, I have to think deeply about subjects I deal with every day. This preparation and subsequent reflection on the audience response enables me to deepen my learning even further and, importantly, to stay fresh in my thinking. Here are my five questions and why I think they’re important.