I'm back again for another fantastic interview.  Where do these people hide in Kent?

This week's special guest on my blog is the wonderfully truthful and exceptionally brave Sian Murphy, 48 from Hoo near Rochester, Medway.

Although the picture is quite clear, Sian would like to reiterate that she is a woman as her name is sometimes confused with Sean.  Don't worry Sian, they will never make that mistake.

Currently, Sian runs her own business, Stormchasers, with her husband Mark.  In conjunction with her work at Stormchasers, Sian works with 2 other professional to make up The Ruby Marketers.

If you are wondering exactly what the company is, I will tell you!  The company specialises in helping local business owners who are computer illiterate or did not have the priviledge of using a laptop when they were younger to market their business online.  The range of services they offer is so vast which can start from setting up a Business Blog for a business to setting up social media profiles and as Sian puts it 'Give them the confidence and know-how to start using it.'

If that wasn't already enough, Stormchaser is branching out in another field of their business.

'Another part of my business is run by my husband Mark and he builds starter websites for businesses as part of Stormchasers at AskStormchasers.'

I was intrigued to find out more and did a bit of 'Googling' and came across an interesting article on the following website:

http://leavingthearmedforces.com/stormchasers/

I found a great quote on this website which described Stormchasers as a business that  'Is about leaping forwards into the storm, and coming back out the other side into a brighter and calmer world.'

I think this is a great acknowledgement of Sian and Mark's hard work.

And for any potential new and bright minds that want to begin their own business, take this advice from Sian.  'My tip for setting up in business is to give it time.  Work out how long it will take you to get it all up and running and get work finished - and then double it!'

'Set goals and then plan how you are going to achieve them and don't give up too soon, but be prepared to bend and sway as things change.  Smile, laugh, share and have 1 full day off each week.'

Wise words and I think, sensible advice for new business minds in the making.  Thanks Sian!

Moving on to Kentish matters, Sian likes the diversity of the landscape in Kent.  'We have rolling countryside, inland waterways, estuary shorelines and seaside all within a 70 mile radius.  To top it all off we also have some fascinating industrial areas with some really unexpected hidden treasures.'

Sian particularly like Hoo Church Cemetery.  Before you feel a shiver go down your spine, listen to the reason.  'A bit odd I know but unlike so many graveyards, Hoo is full of life.  Despite the age of many of the gravestones, there are flowers and shiny windmills, some truly wonderful trees to sit under when it's raining and some well placed benches for when the sun is out.  There are often children playing or just hanging out in their hoodies chatting to each other, whilst other villagers walk their dogs.  It's the happiest graveyard I've ever been to!'

Maybe I could have saved this for Halloween but I think it is great to hear something out the ordinary in an ordinary day in our lives.  Plus, I have never heard someone describe a graveyard in detail without using the words 'depressing' and 'upsetting' before.

As you know, my avid readers, as of 2011 I introduced a new question to my blog in which my interviewees tell me a specific fact or snippet of information about our beloved county.  Sian had a really interesting and historical one this week!

'One day I'm going to walk the Saxon Shore Way.' Sian begins. ' The Shore Way follows the line of historic fortifications that defended the Kent coast at the end of the Roman era.  The Shore Way is 160 miles long and starts from Gravesend and goes right the way around to Hasting, East Sussex.'

'There's lots to see along the way from ports, coastline and stunning countryside and of course that sense of history that walking along an ancient footpath - following along in the footstep of goodness know who always amuses me.'

Further to Sian's comments about the Saxon Shore Way, there are also four Roman fort remains, dating from the 4th Century that line the trail.  The only one I am familiar with is the one in Dover.  Kent is very rich in history but it is always great to learn about new things that different Kent residents know from their own experiences.

One of my favourite parts of the blog is eating spots! 

Sian enjoys eating at two pubs in Kent, namely The Ringlestone Inn and The Pier at Upnor, Rochester.  'I like them because the food is good and so is the atmosphere.  We also like to take a little picnic along the shoreline at Hoo every now and then.' 

You can't beat a Ham and Colman's Mustard sandwich, a bag of kettle crisps and a healthy slice of Chocolate Fudge cake! Delicious.

When not working, Sian enjoys cooking and eating meal with the family with a good bottle of wine, which she finds is her 'favourite pastime.'

This is followed by watching a movie whilst nodding off on the sofa.  A pastime of many in Kent I assume.

But there is more!  'When Mark and I are on our own, we enjoy walking and can often be spotted meandering mindlessly around the haunts of Hoo with nowhere in particular to go.'

'I also make rag rugs from old clothes and cloth, mainly for decorative purposes.'

My blog now enters a more serious tone that I believe needs delicate and careful attention as I am writing it.  Normally, I take great delight in listening to my interviewees explaining a humourous story to me about themselves, whether it be of them waking up semi nude on a beach after an initiation ceremony at University or walking into walls for no apparent reason.

Sian tells me a story that she is currently closing in her life at the moment.  One that has me wanting to stand up and applaud her bravery and courage to be able to tell a volunteer bloggist she has never met a very close and personal chapter of her life which I greatly appreciate and hope you find I have describe in a way that is befitting to you.

'2 years ago Mark and I used to have jobs.  I worked in local Government and Mark was a Project Manager.  We were both unhappy with our jobs and spent years talking about leaving and starting our own business.  I'd already trained as an NLP (forgive me if I'm wrong - Neurolinguistic Programming) practitioner and copywriter but unfortunately we didn't plan properly and then in

2009 found ourselves so stressed and miserable that we just decided to hand in our notice and quit.'

So, on 1st August 2009 there we were with no salaries, but some rather grand business plans.  On 17th August, I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  That stopped us in our tracks for a while.'

'It's now 2 years later and whilst I'm still on medication, our business is finally taking off after lots of false starts.  I could write a whole book on false starts but we have learned so much.'

'It sounds odd but whilst it might seem like the worst possible time to get cancer, in fact it was the best and it might even have been a lifesaver.  Had I been diagnosed whilst I was still at work I think I never would have left because of the security around the sick pay.  If I wasn't diagnosed just 2 weeks after we both left our jobs we would have just transferred our hectic lifestyles from jobs to businesses.  It would have been the same except now we wouldn't have been receiving monthly pay cheques!'

'Today we've both learned the lesson that money isn't that important, although of course that is also now our challenge because when you are in business you have to value money to some extent or you don't earn any of the damn stuff!'

'We also say thank you got what we do have instead of moaning about what we don't and we really do have so much.  Today we are working with some fabulous people the universe has sent us the perfect business partners and associates.  Our offices are up at the Innovation Centre and we have the most amazing fun.  It's all the good stuff about being at work in an office such as being around friends and having someone to share your triumphs and challenges, but without all of the grim stuff of having to dance to someone else's tune.'

As upbeat as ever, Sian claims ' We're having a ball!'

Now one of my favourite parts of the blog where my interviewees put the world to rights with their opinions on how to make Kent a better place.

"I would get planners in Medway to either change or introduce a required ratio of concrete to plants and greenery in the large housing development that are springing up around Hoo.  Many of the houses open directly onto the street, there are no gardens to speak of and the roads are so narrow they are like little brick tunnels.'

Sian likes to see 'a bit of green' when she looks out the window and whilst she doesn't live a development house, it still forms part of the landscape.

'Given that these estates have replaced fields, it would seem ecologically important at least to give a cursory nod to keeping some greenery around!'

I totally agree with that point and think that planners and developers should look closely at where they are building and how it will affect the local surrounding for both the locals and the wildlife.

So we come to my random question of the week and this one is a really good one!

If you could become any person in the world for one day, who would you become and why?

'I tried so hard to think of someone who wasn't too obvious but I couldn't, so I plumped for Oprah Winfrey, a bit of a cliche I know.'

'I chose Oprah because I want to know how it feels to be her.  She had a difficult childhood, dealt with racism and has overcome so much to get where she is.  She has such a clear vision about her life, that I want to know how that feels so I can recreate it for myself.

Well, this has been one of my most intense blogs yet, with highs and lows, cheerful quips and serious tones but overall I have enjoyed writing this one very much.  I hope Sian receives the recognition she deserves, not just through this blog but through the business world too.

Sian - my very best wishes for your future and a speedy recovery and I hope your business will continue to bloom!

So that's it for another week folks! (No Looney Tunes pun intended) but check in again soon for my newest interviewee.  Who knows, it could even be you!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Many years ago in fact as far back as 1264 there was a town called Meregate, which later became known as Margate. Steeped in maritime history it also became a very popular holiday resort for both rich and poor.

Inventions such as the bathing machine a contraption that was wheeled out to sea for both men and women to change into their costumes, made the experience of swimming ‘proper’ and drew more and more holidaymakers.

Margate was on the rise and both the famous and not so famous made a beeline for the stunning beaches, warm sunshine and good old Kentish beer. Songs and poems and films were made about Margate and families enjoyed each other’s company. Life was good for Margate. Well, if we ignore the mods and rockers having a pop at each other in the 1960s…

But in a cruel twist of fate Margate fell out of vogue. Gone were the wealthy tourists, and instead, Margate became home to desperadoes’, and many economic migrants, as well as many disenchanted Londoners sent to Margate by the various councils of London to enjoy the town and live free. Well almost.

The Victorian pier was largely decimated by a storm in 1978, mysterious fires destroyed buildings, unemployment started to climb and property prices headed south.  The UK was in financial turmoil in the 1980s, and Margate began to suffer more than most.  One newspaper called Margate ‘Britain’s Top Ghost Town’ and they didn’t mean of the spooky kind.

But hey presto, a glimmer of hope was there in the Noughties. But some evil landowners, it was said, decided to offer ‘incentives’ or might have been ‘bribes’ to some land and estate agents and not to pass on offers from buyers to sellers.  It was so they could buy them on the cheap! Boo I hear you say, and you would be right. Allegedly.

Huge government grants became available and suddenly the money was gone and some evil people might have trousered the lot. Allegedly.

Humble shopkeepers were asked for more rent and when they could not pay, they were chased to the end of the globe for the funds. Allegedly.

A huge gallery then appeared in 2011 with much acclaim, and with the gallery came the crowds. Many coming down to Margate yet again in mechanically propelled vehicles, as well as something called HS1. 

With the crowds came the sunshine, but beneath Margate’s rebirth, a few of those who felt wronged and a few with morals decided to start to expose those people, which they thought were responsible. Their aim is to make Margate the great place it deserves to be, without the alleged corruption. Like all good stories, there is bound to be a happy ending…

Again the cold, winter freeze has made its way across the county causing more chaos but I have still managed to track down one of you lovely Kentish folk for an interview.

This is Katie Smith, 31 from Maidstone.

Katie is currently on a career break from teaching so that she can look after her 2 children.

In the previous 10 weeks I have noticed a pattern developing amoungst Kentish residence.  A pattern that is similar to the amount of times I lose to my nan at cards when she's dealing!

Like most before her, Katie enjoys the quaint villages of our county, how we have an open countryside around the different parts of Kent and the links we have to our beloved capital city, London.

The appeal to most of us who live here is that we have the luxury of public transport that can get you into the capital in just over an hour so if you want to work, shop or just visit, it is not an inconvenience.  Additionally the countryside we do have available to us is ideal for hiking or just a stroll.

So despite the similar response I receive from interviewees, I understand where they are coming from.

As always though, we have tasty food and drinks and we all like to indulge ourselves once in a while.  Katie is no different.

"I like The White Horse on Bearsted Green. It has good food and a good atmosphere and is a brilliant place to sit outside in the summer."

We all like to sit indoors though, on the cold winter nights and watch a good film or a bit of t.v.

"I like to watch Miranda, Desperate Housewives and Coronation Street.  My favourite movies have to be The Thomas Crown Affair and Dirty Dancing."

I always like to get to this part of the interview because I enjoy to find out funny stories about people to see the real them.  Katie's is just superb and kind of makes you wish you were around when it happened.

"When I was at Primary School I thought I would see what would happen if I pulled the pin out of a fire extinguisher and squeezed the handle."

Wait!!!! It gets better.

"Needless to say water started spraying everywhere, I panicked as I was in the school library and I didn't want the books to get wet so I aimed it at myself."

I can't stop grinning because I think that everyone at some point has wanted to try and spray the water or foam from a fire extinguisher around without any repercussions.  I'm sure there was on this occasion but I always wanted to try it!

After this incident though, I'll think I will steer clear.

Back on a serious matter, I asked Katie how she would make Kent a better place and in my opinion the first part is spot on!

"I would reduce the number of demolitions to old buildings that are replaced by 'cardboard' flats and offices."

I 100% agree that tearing down historical buildings in certain spots to be replaced with housing flats is just crazy.  Building complexes on any spare piece of land or by knocking down other buildings instead of properly planning out a good location is ludicrous."

It seems all sensibility is going out the window.

And finally I have, as always, my random question of the week:  What is the scariest thing, in your own opinion, you have ever faced and successfully overcome?

"Learning to drive was pretty scary as I was rubbish.  It did not help that I booked my test for 5 days after my 17th birthday. I failed!"

Although Katie failed, she eventually overcame the fear and can now drive.

A huge thanks to Mrs Smith for her time and best of luck on the career break with her family.

It still remains to be seen who is my interviewee from week to week, but who knows, it could be you next!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

Well the big freeze has hit England again and so the South East and Kent in particular have been plunged into chaos.  But I still just about managed to get an interviewee.

This week's interviewee has plenty to look forward to in the next 7 months.  She has the build up to Christmas like the rest of us but more importantly, in May 2011 Jo is getting married to her fiance Ben.

So firstly, I want to offer my best to both for the coming months.  (Ben, see you on the Stag Do!)

(I was assured this was a Diet Coke and not an alcoholic beverage)

So this is Joanna Marie Goldhagen, 25 from Malling.  Previously she lived in Kings Hill and then West Farleigh where she picked up an interesting fact.

"The residents are out numbered by sheep apparently."

Jo is an Investment Portfolio Administrator for a London corporation.  Her job entails dealings with ISAs, Unit Trusts, Exams and Pensions.  Despite the huge demand on her, Jo clearly enjoys what she does.

"I love the people I work with, including the Fund Managers.  The commute to work is a killer, particularly with the current snow conditions."

The only benefit of Jo's daily commute is that her fiance also works in London and so, she has a familar face to look at across the carriage.

Although she highly enjoys her current job, Jo also, like most of us, has an ideal occupation.

"I'd like to become an eating disorder counsellor or ultimately, I'd love to open a chocolate shop where I could just bake cakes all day and make truffles for people to enjoy over hot chocolate and coffee."

Aside from mandatory jobs, Jo finds some free time for her hobbies which include making chocolate and confectionary treats such as brownies, truffles, shortbread and fudge and wedding planning.

"My friends would argue that one of my hobbies is wedding planning as I've been planning my own wedding for almost 3 years.  A lot of effort has gone into creating my ideal 50's style sweet themed wedding."

In her childhood years, Jo used to enjoy figure skating but has put her lack of commitment to it down to wariness of breaking something.

I know how great Kent is but it feels even better to know that the people of Kent feel the same.

"I like that we are close enough to London to be able to work and shop, but far away enough to enjoy the countryside.  Kent is picturesque and the people, particularly in smaller villages, I find are very friendly."

"I think the best restaurant in Kent is the The Mulberry Tree in Boughton Monchelsea.  My wedding reception will be held there and it has the best food ever."

Jo is also partial to a fish finger sandwich and recommends The Horseshoes in East Farleigh.

I was surprised with all her wedding plans, chocolate making, commuting and hectic working life that Jo had time to sit down and watch a flick or a TV programme.

"It's a tough one but I particularly love action films: Rocky, Die Hard, Man on Fire and Taken.  They are up there in the best films ever for me.  However, in complete contrast, I love The Sound of Music and La Vita Bella."

I thought I knew Jo well enough already from the information above yet she still had another story to tell me about from her childhood.

"When I was 3, my mum, brother and a family friend and her chidren all went to Butlins in Bognor.  One of the first days there, we went swimming and after, when we were changing, I couldn't find my mum.  I remember thinking 'Mum's left me here!'".

Most kids would panic at this point and it actually happened to me when I was about 7, but Jo funnily did pretty much what I did.

"Rather than crying, I went off to the play park for a bit, then managed to walk home to the chalet where we were staying."

(This next bit, I definately didn't do!)

"Little did I realise my Mum had just been in the toilets. My disappearing act had shut down the whole of Bognor Regis Butlins with the 'Red Coats' out combing the streets and stopping every car going out to check the car boots for me!"

Jo's moral to the story is that she has always been the type of person to just shut up and get on with her life. 

"I think people complain too much about things and give up too easily."

Seeing as Jo didn't give up too easily, I continued to question her and I was really interested to know how Jo would improve the county if she had the power too.

"I would make the Southeastern train lines more reliable.  Kent commuters pay the highest ticket prices and due to the snow, not one person from my area that works in London has been able to go to work.  I would also encourage schools to offer more assistance to all students and not just tell them to go to university.  They should encourage them to explore the other possibilities such as employment, apprenticeships and vocational study."

Again I totally agree and as I said before, I did not go to university and I did an apprenticeship and it was one of the best things I could have ever done for my future career. Unfortunately, the savage cuts the government are making will make opportunities like these few and far between so ex-students and non university folk out there, get your applications in quickly!

Finally, as always, Jo had to be asked my random question of the week:  If your life was summed up in a song, what would it be and why?

"It would have to be Time Warp from Rocky Horror Show.  It's weird, fun, energetic and addictive which couldn't sum up my life better!"

And as I'm writing this line, that is all I can hear in my head so thanks Jo.

Best wishes for the wedding (I'll await my invite in the post!) and I hope you have a great Christmas.

Who is the next resident of Kent to speak about our county?  You tell me!

If you live in Kent, let's talk!

If you would like to appear on my blog, all I ask is that you live in Kent and that you are willing to talk to me for 10 - 15 minutes about yourself.

If you think you'd like to give it a try, drop me an email on millendauthor@gmail.com and we will see what we can do!

It’s unusual to see Peter Symons, the urbane director of business development at Locate in Kent, take centre stage.

But at this week’s launch of the Kent Property Market Report in Dartford, the man who often prefers to be behind the scenes was thrust into the limelight because his boss was on the other side of the Pond.

Paul Wookey, chief executive of the agency that promotes Kent and Medway as great places for business investment, had decided to take a family holiday in the United States. It’s probably the first property review launch he has missed, and there have been 19.

So enter Peter, and he did a good job of chairing an event attended by 200 property experts and guest speakers Paul Carter, KCC leader, Alison Owen, a partner with Maidstone-based specialists Cluttons and Sarah Whitney, head of government and infrastructure at CB Richard Ellis.

With Mr Carter having a far-projecting voice, he abandoned the microphone for his speech, pushing it to one side. But Ms Whitney forgot to restore the mike to his proper position so many delegates could not hear her interesting speech on "place-making."

You could see the shuffling, the reading of documents and the checking of Blackberries. A shame, because one key fact that she revealed was that Kings Hill had been established as an important "place" which had contributed to a 20 per cent premium in property values.

Ms Owen found a roving mike and could be heard clearly. End of shuffling. The overall message to 200 guests was that Kent and Medway had done quite well despite the downturn, better in fact than almost everywhere else, although rents had declined in most markets. We have often said that the county is better-placed than most to ride recession because of its ideal location, high-speed trains and big projects like the Thames Gateway. But the elephant in the Princes Park Stadium was the spending review.

No one was quite sure how that would play with the property and investment market. But with councils and government departments drastically cutting back on spending, as well as laying off thousands, the prospects are not promising. But they can’t take away those assets which could well carry the county through another period of economic uncertainty less battered than elsewhere.

When it comes to troubled areas, Medway's housing has had more than its fair share of problems.

Everyone thought the problems had been solved - until last week.

That was when four members of staff (three of them long-term housing personnel) were suddenly suspended, and escorted from Gun Wharf.

The first most staff knew that there was another problem was an email advising them that the following day's retirement party had been suspended - because the person who was leaving was among the quartet who had been escorted out.

The full story is in today's Medway Messenger.

It makes sorry reading

• for those who had worked hard to turn around the department
• for those who are under suspicion of a potential fiddle involving homeless people
• for those who respected and looked up to them, and
• for those who trust the council to help them through difficult times.

The private sector housing team has been rocked by the suspicions that have been aroused. While nothing has been proved at this stage, investigations are going on and the police could yet be called in.

***

For the first time in three years biscuits were provided at the start of the start of the Children and Adults scrutiny committee last night.

Behind it was Cllr David Royle, the chairman, who provided the biscuits last time.

Both times it was because he was celebrating his birthday.

Pity this time was that no one realised - because they were all concerned about tackling obesity among the children of Medway.

A malicious rumour has it has it that the real reason the free nibbles were cancelled was because the finance portfolio holder, Cllr Alan Jarrett, was starting to gain a corporation - and his wife demanded they were cancelled so that he couldn't be tempted.

If only all things were so simple.

Fifty jobs axed on Tuesday - but there could be as many as 1,000 going over the next four years.

Managers at Gun Wharf have been given a stark warning that if they think the £6.1 million of savings is bad, they are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Those savings were the equivalent of about 1.5 per cent of the total budget. The government is calling for a 25 per cent saving over the next four years - and councils can expect to lose at least that much.

Grim?

You ain't seen nothing yet.

***

There was a hint of panic about some of the changes being announced at yesterday's cabinet meeting.

There were also some suspicions that there could have been a hint of political defcision making. But I have been assured by those beyond the political umbrella that this was definitely not the case.

And to be fair, the Tories have insisted that the whole council is involved in the final decision making.

Not that a number of decisions haven't already been taken.

One tale is that the entire house maintenace contract - including self-supervision - is being handed over to Mears.

UHL is out.

Strange that it is losing the shared portion of the contract because it had too many complaints. This at a time when there were officially only six complaints.

It turns out that in April there were 50 complaints alone logged on housing repairs...