tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2695028.post-66281546892899333982008-01-14T15:17:00.001Z2008-01-14T16:43:03.898Z<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/d6y/2191978323/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/2191978323_ac23e5f44b_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a> </div>Today is my third day, or part day, working out of <a href="http://werkshop.org.uk/">The Werks</a>. <br /><br />I'm used to spending most of my week working in my own space, to shouting down the phone as loud as I like, laughing out-loud in video chats, playing music, or having complete silence... all that stuff. So why am I trying out a more open space? <br /><br />The short answer is, I don't know. The longer answer is that I have a hunch that there's something special about a bunch of people in a room. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Princes_of_Serendip">Serendipity</a> is the word I'm looking for and it's a good match to The Werks: "Werkshop is a new concept which aims to provide a supportive environment for new ideas." <br /><br />So it's going to take me a while to adjust, which is why I'm determined to make the effort to get down to The Werks as regularly as I can in January. Only then will I be in a position to judge the merits of being out there.... although, in part, it depends on who else shows up. <br /><br />In terms of facilities, I can't see anything missing: internet, electricity, lighting, desks, chairs, coffee, water, doors, windows, cycle parking... it's all there, it's been thought about, it all works, it's all good. It's not the centre of Brighton, but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hove">actually</a> the location is great. <br /><br />It's exactly the kind of space a few of us have been talking about for a while, so I'm delighted it exists and is working so well.<br /><br />Each Friday in January is open to anyone. I thought <a href="http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/399483">the first one</a> worked out really well: I certainly enjoyed it. Look for <a href="http://upcoming.yahoo.com/venue/99520/">the event on Upcoming</a> and try it out.<br clear="all" />Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13961558038549366975noreply@blogger.com