Pending changes and a regular weekly.

First the boring bits, CJS Weekly has now gone to press, it's 10 pages this week containing 66 new paid posts of which 42 came direct to CJS. As usual the digital version is already online and available to view.
Now the new stuff - next week subs rates will change for postal subscribers, as of 3pm on Thursday 1 April the new rates will be £2.00 per week for eleven or more copies and £2.20 if you purchase less than ten. If you receive the digital copy then nothing changes.

You might have noticed that next weekend is Easter which for most people involves a four day holiday weekend, this usually means the CJS office is very quiet. So we're taking this opportunity to upgrade all the software, yes all of it, new operating system, new server and also moving onto MS Office 2010 - well, we might as well have one big crash rather than lots of little ones! As ever multiple back ups are being made and contingency plans are being put in place. We hope it will all go smoothly but have laid in lots of chocolate biscuits just in case it doesn't...
So whilst you're enjoying the Easter sunshine (well, fingers crossed) think of us working away, and polishing off the Easter eggs.

Weekly update

Beautiful all week if a little cold (down to -6 over night on Monday!), this morning we heard the first curlew so it's official - spring is here.
We've been working one computer down all week, yesterday the machine was returned for us to test and we promptly crashed it, time after time. Finally it was agreed that a new machine would be built to replace the malfunctioning one. This turned up this morning and was installed, a few gremlins were worked out and now we're gradually adding all the personal settings. So fingers crosssed that it for now - although we are changing the server later this month and then upgrading the operating systems early next month prior to a complete software overhaul later in the year - what could possibly go wrong.... Please stick with us if it all goes pineapple shaped.
In the midst of it all the Weekly edition has been edited and gone to press this afternoon, it's been quiet (thank goodness) and it's nine pages containing 45 new paid posts of which 29 came direct to CJS. This week you're receiving the Training Calendar for April and also the second advance warning of subscription rate change for postal subs, digital ones remain unchanged.

Finally...

The end of the week arrives, it's been a busy week. Our misbehaving computer is getting worse and is causing all sorts of problems, it's created a rather frantic form of CJS musical chairs, or maybe that should be musical computers! TB's on holiday this week in sunny(?) spain hiking through various mountains and her editing role has been shared out across the Team, so sorry for any typo's we're not quite as proficient. Regardless, the Weekly edition is now printing and as usual the digital version is already online for digital subscribers. Multi-user subscribers should have received new access details this week, the old details will be valid for another week or two but if you've not received yours please check with your CJS co-ordinator and then they can contact us.
This week it's 8 sides, 56 new paid posts of which 48 came direct to CJS.

We have a small job available for someone who lives in Northern Ireland. Not too onerous, but not highly paid either! If you're curious please contact TheTeam@countryside-jobs.com

Latest Weekly

Is now dropping off the printers. This week it's 10 pages plus three of training for the coming month, there are 91 new paid posts of which 42 came direct to CJS. There is also the second advance warning about the impending subscription rate change along with a few more details about what's happening and why.
The owls have been hooting this week and the bulbs in the garden are showing their beautiful colours, although the snowdrops are almost over. So we think it must be spring!

Sunshine and snow

Although it's brilliant sunshine now we had another dusting of snow this week and there have been some very hard frosts overnight. Yesterday we had yellowhammers on the feeding station and it seems as if we're the join between two lots of robin territories - we've seen a few dust ups! Winter hasn't quite given up yet although spring is definitely chasing hard on its heels with some glorious bulbs showing their head above ground and the first few seedlings are appearing in pots in the greenhouse.
Despite the glorious sunshine we beavered away at the machinery and got CJS to print on time, this week it's nine pages with 53 new paid posts of which 30 came direct. the online copies are already available and post allowing paper editions will be there on Monday. This week's edition also contains the first advance warning notice of an impending change in subs rates.

What a week

Friday travails: TB had to leave her car at the field with her horses (a couple of miles from the CJS office) and walk home, 50 minutes of hard trudge through the soggy snow. AW tried to get home but managed 200 yards in 20 minutes! But family with a large 4x4 were able to make it through and take her home up the dale. However, we're happy to report to damages to property or more importantly people. The dogs all thought the snow was wonderful, their people were not so pleased at all the soggy pawprints. Friday night it all froze solid but by Sunday there was hardly anything left. Monday arrived and you'd never know it had snowed at all. And now (Friday afternoon) the sun in shining, it's warm and spring like, most peculiar!

Despite the vagaries of the weather CJS has trundled on and right now copies of CJS Weekly are dropping off the printers, this week is 12 sides long with 93 new paid posts of which 63 came direct to CJS.

You may be aware that postage rates are changing yet again come April, this will push the cost of producing and posting CJS Weekly beyond your subscription fee (yes, our profit margins really are so small). So we're looking at ways to reduce the cost and this week we're experimenting with folding your copies to fit a C5 (half A4) envelope which should make them RM letter size rather than large letter with an analogous postage decrease. If it's possible without giving the staff RSI we maybe able to stave off a huge subs increase, if it's not possible we'll have to stick with flats (C4, big envelopes) and charge you all a lot more – sorry. Keep your fingers crossed it works.