Hospital can seem like a world where time runs differently, and if one is used to the certainty of things generally running to time and happening when they should, it can be a frustrating place.

I've updated my graph following this week's Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) announcement.

It shows for some areas LGR is going to be even more complex than first thought, with not just counties, but many districts being split up to form new unitary councils.

graphcommons.com/graphs/d6b35...

Mixtapes are a great example of pre-internet music sharing.

Another is, for a period in the 90s, I spent my Saturday mornings in Record Basement in Reading.

The DJ would play the new 12", and everyone in the shop would choose what to buy. As well as the music there was a great social side too.

The problem there is you're using a measure from the 1980s (the top 100 albums) to evaluate today's contemporary culture.

Try that in reverse by looking at the number of independent film makers on YouTube in the 1980s, and you'll see why that doesn't really work.

We never all watched or listened to the same stuff.

Think of all the genres in the 80s and their associated cultures.

If you were into electro or acid house, rap or hop-hop, indie or goth, the music you listened to and how you dressed would be very different.

Not everything, and the technology with which to make movies and series has never been more available.

For example the pilot of Knights of Guinevere by Glitch was excellent, and I quite liked the Amazing Digital Circus too.

Is there less emerging contemporary culture, or does one get further away from it the older they get?

For example, because I'm further away from contemporary culture, often I can't tell the difference between Drill and Grime, and both of those genres are over a decade old.

I think it's always happened to a certain extent.

In the 70s there was 50s revival (for example American Graffiti, Grease), in the 80s a 60s revival (for example Dirty Dancing, Hairspray), etc.

It's just now in 2026 there's a lot more popular culture to choose from.

Wi-Fi data collection TfL collects Wi-Fi connection data at some stations on the Elizabeth line to better understand journey patterns and improve TfL services. TfL will not identify individuals. You can opt out by turning off your device’s Wi-Fi. For more information visit tfl.gov.uk/wifi-data-collection

Spotted this on the Elizabeth Line today. To opt out, you need to turn Wi-Fi on your device off.

Thanks Steve, that's interesting.

How many councils did you speak to?

It's a great start, and it would be good to see something more adaptive as the next iteration.

Many services such as booking a tip slot or to register a birth include additional steps.

Something that generates an initial pattern based on the type of service would be good to see.

That's a shame. How did you work out the rates of pay including on-costs, and hours contributed, of everyone in every department or organisation working on a design system please?

Are you able to publish your economic analysis please?

Putting the need to present a joined-up view of government services using common styles and elements aside for a minute, on your question of time, one could ask, what's more of a waste:

1️⃣ Trying to funnel every single thing into one design system
2️⃣ The creation of tens of similar design systems

Notification banner Use a notification banner to tell the user about something they need to know about, but that’s not directly related to the page content

Yes, some will be department specific, but In some cases these are common components:

design-system.service.gov.uk/components/n...

design.homeoffice.gov.uk/design-syste...

design-patterns.service.justice.gov.uk/components/a...

Even the terminology "notification banner" vs "alert" is different.

Many departments seem to have their own design system. I found a list here: github.com/ctdesign/gov...

I recently saw a sign on the Elizabeth Line requesting passengers turn off their WiFi if they didn't want their data collected.

Not sure how that implied consent sits with GDPR?

There's actually a page on TfL's website about data collection: tfl.gov.uk/corporate/pr...

Digital Communities Survey September – October 2025 In September to October 2025, the Local Government Association sent an online survey to all English local councils. This survey gathered insights into local authorities’ approaches to digital inclusio...

Interesting to read in this @local.gov.uk report that #localgov IT/Digital departments are most likely to lead on digital inclusion.

Is this the right place in your view?

www.local.gov.uk/publications...

It's easy to imagine a conspiracy, when the real answer is sometimes just greed.

It's a good reminder to me that if you specify why a service should be delivered but not how, you'll potentially end up with a multitude of ways, which can be confusing to the service user.

Despite there being a National Proof of Age Standards Scheme, each of these providers seem to have a different application process, ranging from printing off a PDF, to being able verify existing ID digitally.

www.pass-scheme.org.uk/card-supplie...

Come join @rumens.uk and me at GDS Local as our Senior Delivery Manager.

Closing date: 9 Feb
Location: Bristol, London, Manchester.

Help us bridge central and local gov digital to create seamless experiences for users.
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cg...

I hear it suggests frequently used words

Interested, but not on a Saturday.

Joining up public services through stronger local and central government collaboration GDS Local is driving collaboration between central and local government to build faster, user-centred digital services.

The Roadmap for Modern Digital Government has a commitment that GDS works with #localgov to co-create a vision including shared products and components of a technology stack.

If this is of interest to you what are your thoughts?

roadmap-for-modern-digital-government.campaign.gov.uk/join-up-serv...

Wish I could be at #ukgc26 today. If you are, do post and blog about it, to share the innovation and collaboration across the internet.

That makes sense, because Greggs are bakers.

There are many Christmas songs but very few Easter songs.

Why is that?

You'd like £200k to make an advert featuring a talking dog?

An interesting development, because Denmark is often held up as an example doing digital government well, which as I understand it started with Digital Post, and I guess might have been a contributing factor in the demise of letters.

en.digst.dk/systems/digi...