So, here we are at our regular Tuesday Open Platform session. There’s a nice buzz today with interesting conversations on the go around solar panels installation and home insulation. And of course we have an arts table on the go from where I’m hearing some lovely chat and laughter. A lovely space

So, let me catch you up with what’s happening today among our members.

The biggest thing right now is that Vince and a new member John are having a deep conversation about solar panels and green home improvements. Vince is setting up a business providing sustainably-minded home insulation and has an interest in solar panels. John has just started a business - Green Community Warmth (http://www NULL.gcwarmth NULL.co NULL.uk/) – fitting solar panels for free with the help of My Blue Skies (http://www NULL.myblueskies NULL.co NULL.uk/) and a fantastic business plan to ensure a win-win situation for all involved. He’s also interested in training disadvantaged folk (ex-addicts for example) with some green skills doing the actual fitting. That’s with Stepping Stones (http://www NULL.steppingstonesleicestershire NULL.com/) in Leicester. Anyway, the pair of them are heads together plotting and planning how to fit panels on all our roofs, and how to go about it. If you want to get in touch with either of them them email Vince at fresh.cosyhomes@yahooc.om (fresh NULL.cosyhomes null@null yahoo NULL.com) and John at gcwarmth@hotmail.co.uk (gcwarmth null@null hotmail NULL.co NULL.uk).

Colin, our regular member, has started thinking about getting back into electrics – particularly low voltage systems. So he’s joined Vince and John and thinking of getting trained up for solar panels. Great vibes around that conversation!

We also had one of our newer members Claire talking about her home-business selling handmade jewellery and the like. Next week she’ll be bringing her wares in and getting some feedback from OPers on how best to take this venture forward. Looking forward to it.

Our long-time member Chris Richards has also got a new idea for a Bike CIC. If you know Chris you’ll know that he has a passion for bikes and probably knows most of the cycling organisations in Bristol. His new idea is to register himself as a CIC and carry on working to network all these organisations together for the greatest effect. So we wish him some good luck on that; he’s just in the stage of looking for funding.

Raphael is exploring how to take his accountancy skills into the third sector. Our thoughts are that he should be able to find positions fairly easily. He’ll be actively ready for this in a year’s time.

And I’m looking at resurrecting a charity name that I registered a year or two ago:TransitionSeed (http://transitionseed NULL.com). Originally a vision for tree planting, the latest idea is to break down the age segregation of our society today and encourage inter-generational mentoring and support. Early days yet, but there’s the germ of an idea in this.

Last but not least, Amber, Annabel and Lynne are enjoying the arts supplies and having a good natter about all sorts. And making me laugh to realise that the men are all off on one table talking voltages and electrics and the women are on the other table laughing, talking and creating. Unusual for OP, but somehow quite comically stereotypical.