19 may 2010, back, for a moment

Just back from two days in brussels, the first time in two years work has taken me off the island, which, given I have a somewhat key strategic role in a supposedly major european city, already tells a tale. It was an excellent trip, making new colleagues in new areas of interest, and meeting old colleagues-turned-friends. I spoke some french, wore my eu badge with pride, talked about the eurogroup and learned tremendous amounts about how what I was doing some years ago analysing the drafting of the lisbon agenda, translates on the ground to programmes that cities like mine are trying to draw funding from to realise the goals of lisbon, now renamed europe 2020. On balance, I love my new role, but there are certainly aspects of my old one I sorely miss, not least the international element and the idealism of working for a common goal. I did rather feel amongst my own kind and found myself leaving in a rather reflective mood. Fired up though, and eager to spread the knowledge and reap the rewards - for manchester and for europe !