Last night Transglobal Underground played at t'trades and I was looking forward to meeting up with our mate Tim who plays with the band, but he wasn't sure if they were staying over because some of the band had jobs the following day. When they got to Hebden, there was a kids party on so they couldn't get in to set up and went t'Shoulder instead, then Tim came here and we had a chat and a cup of tea, before he went to get ready.
The gig was sold out, which was something I hadn't considered so it was a good job we were on the guest list. The place got packed and really hot, and we saw quite a lot of people we knew and some people from outside Hebden even – just like the olden days.
The band soon got the crowd whipped into a frenzy (it doesn't take much round here!) and there was a sweaty hour and a half or so of spiffing music and bad dancing. Afterwards, we chatted to Tim some more and said our goodbyes as he had a long drive back to London and then back to Paris on Monday, and ended up chatting to a couple of other band members outside as they were loading the van. It's a shit business!
Anyway, I managed to mention Phil's music projects as he himself was reluctant to do so – Tim said send us some links so if Phil doesn't, I will, He has contacts as he does film music and all sorts of other things now, including belly dance music strangely enough! Also told them about The World on Your Doorstep and to spend more time here next time, now they have seen how much people love them.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at how popular they are as they are jolly good and really interesting and genre-defying, but when you've known someone in a band from when they had their first single which you bought to help them get in the charts (and subsequent Coca Colatm advert) it's strange to see them 15 years later in the small northern town you now live in. I was also a bit worried that no-one was going to come out, especially as it is shit weather this weekend. So I was really pleased for them, and for us too because now they might come back.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Who do you trust?
The event most worthy of note this week has been the debacle of the missing data of 25 million British people, floating around on 2 CDs somewhere between the Revenue and Benefits office in Tyne & Wear and the National Audit office in London. Good grief! It looks like what happened is that the Audit Office wanted some names and addresses, but it was easier to just copy the whole of the database rather than do a query. This is probably because all this IT stuff gets outsourced (costing us taxpayers billions by the way) and no-one internal actually knows how the database works, so they would have had to get someone else to do it.
No-one knows where the data is, and police have been searching for it, and it could turn up behind a desk somewhere I guess, but my theory is that someone has taken it home thinking one day they can make a lot of money this, but then got scared, and/or possibly waiting for the fuss to die down before doing anything with the disks. There's always the chance that it will mysteriously re-appear when they think nobody's looking. I wonder if they've realised that they could bring down the whole UK banking system – Northern Rock? peanuts!
One consequence of this state of affairs has been some backtracking in plans to introduce ID cards, requiring a national database – the argument being that we can't be sure the data would be safe. Well der! Personally, I have never been naïve enough to believe that our personal data stays in one place. I know that companies buy and sell it so they can use it for marketing purposes or whatever. The situation is not helped by the fact that UK government has a history of continuing to pay companies to create these ridiculously unreliable IT systems (see health service for details) instead of getting someone who knows what they're on about to do it. Will they ever learn?
No-one knows where the data is, and police have been searching for it, and it could turn up behind a desk somewhere I guess, but my theory is that someone has taken it home thinking one day they can make a lot of money this, but then got scared, and/or possibly waiting for the fuss to die down before doing anything with the disks. There's always the chance that it will mysteriously re-appear when they think nobody's looking. I wonder if they've realised that they could bring down the whole UK banking system – Northern Rock? peanuts!
One consequence of this state of affairs has been some backtracking in plans to introduce ID cards, requiring a national database – the argument being that we can't be sure the data would be safe. Well der! Personally, I have never been naïve enough to believe that our personal data stays in one place. I know that companies buy and sell it so they can use it for marketing purposes or whatever. The situation is not helped by the fact that UK government has a history of continuing to pay companies to create these ridiculously unreliable IT systems (see health service for details) instead of getting someone who knows what they're on about to do it. Will they ever learn?
Sunday, November 18, 2007
A Night of the Unexpected
We had an interesting night in Huddersfield on Friday, as we went to see what this Festival of Light was all about. This entailed some French performers called Plasticien Volant putting on a show called The Pearl, starting at St Peter's gardens and parading through the streets with a growing array of large flying sea creatures including jellyfish, seahorses, octopus, a whale and some kind of snake, chasing a pearl through the streets to St. George's square, where said pearl ended up in its shell. There were loads of people lining the streets, some intrigued, some puzzled, and some downright scared by the strange Europeaness...Well, it is a bit weird for Huddersfield but it probably happens all the time in places like France and Canada. At the end of the performance, there were fireworks being let off from behind the station, which was nice.
We made a quick exit to beat the crowds out of the town centre, as we had tickets for a Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival event at Bates Mill called 1 Night of the Unexpected. When we got there, there was some what I call bing bang bong music going on, so I distracted myself with a cheap beer and took the piss. my neek partner told me to stop wingeing and accused me of not getting it. Err! I do understand that two tunes were going on at once; I just hate that shit. Thankfully, things got better, with a very interesting violin performance, a fantastic laser show and someone getting toy cars to play records – a cross between spinning plates and scalextrics. There was also a funny DJ who played old random scratched 7” singles, and a woman doing industrial drumming – ah! That took me back to the '80's!
We also experienced a very interesting installation with a Luddite theme (now I got this straight away and hardly anyone else did – including a couple I knew who had just arrived and looked puzzled, and loads of eggheads who just stood there watching people twiddling knobs). We stayed almost 3 hours altogether, then some more awful bing bang bong music started up, this time of the jazz variety so even worse than the brass type, and we made our escape.
All in all, we agreed we had had a very entertaining night; it was certainly different. The HCMF audience made me crack up though – mainly university bods and students, on the guest list of course, chattering on about the last thing they went to rather than actually listening to and watching what was going on in front of them. I wondered how many of these experimental musicians had research grants at us tax-payers expense to pay for their expensive Apple laptops and lasers. Hmm! (sound of me stroking chin and looking pensive!)
We made a quick exit to beat the crowds out of the town centre, as we had tickets for a Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival event at Bates Mill called 1 Night of the Unexpected. When we got there, there was some what I call bing bang bong music going on, so I distracted myself with a cheap beer and took the piss. my neek partner told me to stop wingeing and accused me of not getting it. Err! I do understand that two tunes were going on at once; I just hate that shit. Thankfully, things got better, with a very interesting violin performance, a fantastic laser show and someone getting toy cars to play records – a cross between spinning plates and scalextrics. There was also a funny DJ who played old random scratched 7” singles, and a woman doing industrial drumming – ah! That took me back to the '80's!
We also experienced a very interesting installation with a Luddite theme (now I got this straight away and hardly anyone else did – including a couple I knew who had just arrived and looked puzzled, and loads of eggheads who just stood there watching people twiddling knobs). We stayed almost 3 hours altogether, then some more awful bing bang bong music started up, this time of the jazz variety so even worse than the brass type, and we made our escape.
All in all, we agreed we had had a very entertaining night; it was certainly different. The HCMF audience made me crack up though – mainly university bods and students, on the guest list of course, chattering on about the last thing they went to rather than actually listening to and watching what was going on in front of them. I wondered how many of these experimental musicians had research grants at us tax-payers expense to pay for their expensive Apple laptops and lasers. Hmm! (sound of me stroking chin and looking pensive!)
Sunday, November 11, 2007
nice work if you can get it
A few items in the local paper have been getting us riled this weekend. The first is to do with bidding for some lottery money to do up the park. I would like to know why on earth the council needs £90,000 for this! All the park needs is a tidy up and a few better items in the kids' playground (and getting rid of the stupid skateboard park would help to discourage the wannabe chavs).
The second item involves the local council wanting to stop people complaining about their services. Well, if they actually offered any visibly decent services in return for the extortionate amounts we pay in council tax, people wouldn't complain would they? I have been trying to contact them this week to report a non-working street light. The number I have from the council's own services directory is out of date, and a message which is barely audible gives you an alternative number to ring. I had to listen to the damn thing three times until I could make out the new number! No wonder people get pissed off.
Which brings me to the last item to hack us off namely plans by aforesaid council to spend £100,000 to improve their image, including £30k on a Reputation Manager. They wouldn't need one if they were any good! Still, nice work if you can get it I suppose!
The second item involves the local council wanting to stop people complaining about their services. Well, if they actually offered any visibly decent services in return for the extortionate amounts we pay in council tax, people wouldn't complain would they? I have been trying to contact them this week to report a non-working street light. The number I have from the council's own services directory is out of date, and a message which is barely audible gives you an alternative number to ring. I had to listen to the damn thing three times until I could make out the new number! No wonder people get pissed off.
Which brings me to the last item to hack us off namely plans by aforesaid council to spend £100,000 to improve their image, including £30k on a Reputation Manager. They wouldn't need one if they were any good! Still, nice work if you can get it I suppose!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Night of the Tranny Vampires
Last night was our annual fireworks display. We went out and met up with a friend and got a pint before finding a spot on the Marina. We had a laugh with the cheap sparklers we had bought earlier – 3 out of 6 were little better than burning sticks! I said next time we were getting Chinese ones, none of that British rubbish! The firework display was a bit earlier than normal but it was really spectacular! It could have been the best ever! Some of them were like sparkly snow and I wished I'd remembered my camera as I could have had this year's Christmas card piccie now.
Town was predictably heaving and our friend didn't want to go in any crowded pubs afterwards so we went to the White Swan and sat in the garden (even though she had slagged it off earlier for being awful but I don't really know why). I quizzed her about not inviting us to the special night at her local, the Hare and Hounds to celebrate a new tenure. She said it was weird as they were dressed up and the landlord was wearing fishnets and a Dracula cape. Transvestite Vampires in Old Town – excellent! Spooky rural goings-on suspicions confirmed yet again! We predictably started making up Hammer-type film plot lines.
Our friend went home early on the pretext of having to see to a neighbour's cats and so we went to our local. Another friend was on her way to see her daughter and niece at another pub but asked if we'd still be there in an hour. I said I wasn't sure, but we were – unfortunately. On her return, she was full of tales of woe, including her best mate having lung cancer, her daughter self-harming, her sister having an eating disorder and her ex turning out to be a trannie. I must say, the last of these seemed trivial and who cares as long as no-one gets hurt. We said he should move to Old Town!
however, I guess your best mate dying is rather heavy, but I could do without knowing at the end of an otherwise amusing and entertaining night – selfish I know but I really wished we had gone home earlier as originally planned. On the other hand, it is a traditional drinking day and the highlight of the local calendar so it is inevitable that you drink more than you should and stay out later. We seem to be doing this less often now so I guess the odd binge is okay (despite what our nanny state government say).
Town was predictably heaving and our friend didn't want to go in any crowded pubs afterwards so we went to the White Swan and sat in the garden (even though she had slagged it off earlier for being awful but I don't really know why). I quizzed her about not inviting us to the special night at her local, the Hare and Hounds to celebrate a new tenure. She said it was weird as they were dressed up and the landlord was wearing fishnets and a Dracula cape. Transvestite Vampires in Old Town – excellent! Spooky rural goings-on suspicions confirmed yet again! We predictably started making up Hammer-type film plot lines.
Our friend went home early on the pretext of having to see to a neighbour's cats and so we went to our local. Another friend was on her way to see her daughter and niece at another pub but asked if we'd still be there in an hour. I said I wasn't sure, but we were – unfortunately. On her return, she was full of tales of woe, including her best mate having lung cancer, her daughter self-harming, her sister having an eating disorder and her ex turning out to be a trannie. I must say, the last of these seemed trivial and who cares as long as no-one gets hurt. We said he should move to Old Town!
however, I guess your best mate dying is rather heavy, but I could do without knowing at the end of an otherwise amusing and entertaining night – selfish I know but I really wished we had gone home earlier as originally planned. On the other hand, it is a traditional drinking day and the highlight of the local calendar so it is inevitable that you drink more than you should and stay out later. We seem to be doing this less often now so I guess the odd binge is okay (despite what our nanny state government say).
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Apolitical dunce
We went to the Lawrence Batley Theatre to see Our Friends in the North on Thursday . The play was pretty good. It was first written in 1982 and this is a special 25 year anniversary production, a timely reminder of the origins and ramifications of political corruption. The story is quite a bit different from the t.v. version– there is loads about Rhodesia, which doesn't even get mentioned in the BBC adaptation. My friend reckons this is because Mugabe is all the media's fault as they bigged him up. Well I can't remember that amount of detail from the time, but it is interesting the way things get edited and distorted, innit?
I actually found it more depressing than the telly screenplay because, I suppose, of the politics and how much more apparent it was that things are just the same now – there was a theme running through that this was the beginning of political disillusionment among ordinary people, but I wonder if that is true. There's a lot of talk nowadays about apathy and alienation which leads to the British people largely accepting things, and not standing up for what they believe is right; they'd rather have a good winge (see non smoking law for details, as previously discussed) than change things. But with a very few exceptions, I think it's been that way for a long time.
We have currently been watching the BBC version of Our Friends in the North on DVD. This weekend we watched the episode covering 1984, the Miner's strike and all that. This made me think again what a bastard Thatcher was. Why does everyone have this rosy glow about what life was like under the Tories? I mean, Labour are just as shit but what happened to the miners was totally criminal – how could people vote that woman in again after what she did to them? Well, I guess they got their comeuppance with the poll tax riots; this really was the last straw for a lot of people. When the government starts upsetting middle class grannies, they really have to start taking notice so Gordy watch out! People can see past their shiny beads eventually if they're pushed hard enough!
I actually found it more depressing than the telly screenplay because, I suppose, of the politics and how much more apparent it was that things are just the same now – there was a theme running through that this was the beginning of political disillusionment among ordinary people, but I wonder if that is true. There's a lot of talk nowadays about apathy and alienation which leads to the British people largely accepting things, and not standing up for what they believe is right; they'd rather have a good winge (see non smoking law for details, as previously discussed) than change things. But with a very few exceptions, I think it's been that way for a long time.
We have currently been watching the BBC version of Our Friends in the North on DVD. This weekend we watched the episode covering 1984, the Miner's strike and all that. This made me think again what a bastard Thatcher was. Why does everyone have this rosy glow about what life was like under the Tories? I mean, Labour are just as shit but what happened to the miners was totally criminal – how could people vote that woman in again after what she did to them? Well, I guess they got their comeuppance with the poll tax riots; this really was the last straw for a lot of people. When the government starts upsetting middle class grannies, they really have to start taking notice so Gordy watch out! People can see past their shiny beads eventually if they're pushed hard enough!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Polish car mystery
I visited the relatively new Polish in Huddersfield a couple of days ago. It's funny going in there, because it's like going to a foreign country. I was the only person who spoke English. It's also funny because some of the brands they sell are familiar, such as knorr, but the packaging is all Polish. Mind you, I saw that most shoppers were buying crisps and other such stuff.
I have also noticed a new bar in Huddersfield which I think is Polish, and there seem to be a lot of young Polish people in the town, making me wonder if they are attending the University. I was musing with Phil yesterday, saying it was strange with all these Eastern Europeans moving in that I don't actually know any (apart from the wife of a work colleague who is from the Czech Republic). When I was a kid I had friends whose families were Polish and Ukrainian and I sometimes went to their clubs for dances and stuff. It made us think about that and how those earlier generations became integrated into the rest of British society, whereas the young people coming over now perhaps don't plan to stay so don't mix as much. I don't know for sure, but maybe this is the case.
A few weeks ago I started to notice Polish cars on the morning commute, which made me wonder about the economics of driving a car overland – surely it's not cost effective in these days of cheap flights or indeed coach travel? Couldn't quite get my head round that. The only thing I thought possibly is that because it is so much cheaper to buy a car in the rest of Europe that this makes it worthwhile bringing your old one over rather than buying one in England. If there's any Eastern Europeans who now live in England reading this, perhaps you could help me out.
I have also noticed a new bar in Huddersfield which I think is Polish, and there seem to be a lot of young Polish people in the town, making me wonder if they are attending the University. I was musing with Phil yesterday, saying it was strange with all these Eastern Europeans moving in that I don't actually know any (apart from the wife of a work colleague who is from the Czech Republic). When I was a kid I had friends whose families were Polish and Ukrainian and I sometimes went to their clubs for dances and stuff. It made us think about that and how those earlier generations became integrated into the rest of British society, whereas the young people coming over now perhaps don't plan to stay so don't mix as much. I don't know for sure, but maybe this is the case.
A few weeks ago I started to notice Polish cars on the morning commute, which made me wonder about the economics of driving a car overland – surely it's not cost effective in these days of cheap flights or indeed coach travel? Couldn't quite get my head round that. The only thing I thought possibly is that because it is so much cheaper to buy a car in the rest of Europe that this makes it worthwhile bringing your old one over rather than buying one in England. If there's any Eastern Europeans who now live in England reading this, perhaps you could help me out.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Posh it up
There is a growing trend for posh shops in the town where I live, which seems to be accelerating of late, particularly along Market street. As well as Lupino and Rose that has just opened selling jewels and other things you don't need, there is a new jeans shop called Sage & Onion which is far too expensive – about £160 for a pair of jeans, so I can't see it lasting that long! Together with Kloggs and Dynamite which opened a few weeks ago, that makes three trendy clothes shops now. Then there's Ruby Shoesday* which has moved across the road, and a total of three jewelry shops. Still, at least two of these are run by the people who make the stuff.
Hebden has always been full of creative people, but now I guess they reckon there's a market to sell their stuff here so they're opening retail outlets. I notice a lot more people coming into the town at weekends now to buy things other than chips. It might also be that the big cities are getting too expensive for small independents to afford the rents. I think it's quite good for the town, even if some of the stuff is a bit pricey.
Mind you, I can imagine lots of wingeing about it! It's like when Hebden was on the Politics Show last weekend. The article was mainly about the town going plastic-bag free, but they also mentioned other initiatives such as the plastic recycling and the Alternative Technology Centre. Although the main article was on the local segment of the show, there was a short link from the national studio in London who described Hebden Bridge as 'glorious'!
During the interviews with our Mayor, Nader Fekri and two of the Bag Ladies, I was thinking I bet they've blocked the street off to stop the undesirables and nay sayers (i.e., locals) wandering up during filming. I can think of a few people who will detest the fact that the town is getting more interesting, famous and prosperous!
*See Standing Shoes only for an amusing anecdote relating to this shop
Hebden has always been full of creative people, but now I guess they reckon there's a market to sell their stuff here so they're opening retail outlets. I notice a lot more people coming into the town at weekends now to buy things other than chips. It might also be that the big cities are getting too expensive for small independents to afford the rents. I think it's quite good for the town, even if some of the stuff is a bit pricey.
Mind you, I can imagine lots of wingeing about it! It's like when Hebden was on the Politics Show last weekend. The article was mainly about the town going plastic-bag free, but they also mentioned other initiatives such as the plastic recycling and the Alternative Technology Centre. Although the main article was on the local segment of the show, there was a short link from the national studio in London who described Hebden Bridge as 'glorious'!
During the interviews with our Mayor, Nader Fekri and two of the Bag Ladies, I was thinking I bet they've blocked the street off to stop the undesirables and nay sayers (i.e., locals) wandering up during filming. I can think of a few people who will detest the fact that the town is getting more interesting, famous and prosperous!
*See Standing Shoes only for an amusing anecdote relating to this shop
Sunday, September 23, 2007
The acceptable face of gaming
I recently acquired a Nintendo Wii (TM) as a present. This has already proved to be a good investment gift. Although I only have 3 games for now, I have got into the habit of playing wii sports (TM) when I get home from work about 3 times a week. I started with just 10 minutes, usually boxing, but am now up to almost half an hour. My routine involves a session of wii fitness, followed by a game of tennis or rounders (sorry, baseball) and then a few rounds of boxing. I LOVE the boxing!! This is for lots of reasons - I am quite good at it and my technique is improving; so far I have knocked all my mii opponents out by round 2, and it really makes me sweat so I know it's good for me! At last! Exercise I like that I can do in the comfort of my own home and isn't boring!
There was an article on telly the other night about an old people's home where they all play wii sports (TM ) and have a great social life and keep active. The positive face of computer gaming! Could this be the end of sloth and obesity? I can't believe I'm raving about the product of a large manufacturer – so unlike me! I have had games machines before but always avoided Nintendo as I had a vision of super Mario cart bollox. You do still get that crap, but you get all this other cool stuff too.
There was an article on telly the other night about an old people's home where they all play wii sports (TM ) and have a great social life and keep active. The positive face of computer gaming! Could this be the end of sloth and obesity? I can't believe I'm raving about the product of a large manufacturer – so unlike me! I have had games machines before but always avoided Nintendo as I had a vision of super Mario cart bollox. You do still get that crap, but you get all this other cool stuff too.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Northern Cock
We have been marveling at the antics brought on by the Northern Rock news that they have asked the Bank of England for a loan as no banks will lend them any money. In a nutshell, as far as I understand it, this has been brought on by the American mortgage crisis of last month and due to the unique way that Northern Rock is funded (sic) they can't get the money from their normal sources. Customers (mainly pensioners by the looks of things) have been queuing up to get their money out, in some cases resulting in the police having to come and calm things down. Idiots! Don't they realise the money's not real? Still, there'll be a lot of cash under mattresses now so chavs are probably going to be quids in! Good time to look at different bank accounts too as they are offering really good interest rates.
Some news reports are saying that Northern Rock may be forced to sell off. That's as may be, but I really hope sanity prevails and the madness doesn't spread to the other banks. Just look at what's happened in the past in countries like Germany and Argentina. I don't want to have to take a wheelbarrow of cash to the shops!
Some news reports are saying that Northern Rock may be forced to sell off. That's as may be, but I really hope sanity prevails and the madness doesn't spread to the other banks. Just look at what's happened in the past in countries like Germany and Argentina. I don't want to have to take a wheelbarrow of cash to the shops!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
I Blame the Parents
Last night I saw they mother of the kid I got out of nick the other week. She told us that they had gone away to her mum's for a week but had to come home because D hit her gran. Good grief! Apparently she ran off but got scared by some Black girls on a nearby council estate and came back. Now D is sleeping in a tent in her friend's back garden on a local estate (so much for not hanging round with her anymore!). Well at least mum knows where she is and they come home when they want to wash their hair and D needs to get a change of clothes.
I don't know! This school holiday it's gone stupid. For example, I got woken up at 3.00 a.m. in the early hours of Friday by what sounded like muntered teenagers shouting and screaming and I yelled out of the window to tell them to shut up and 'phoned the police to report a disturbance but it was a waste of time. Nobody gives a toss about all these kids wandering the streets and drinking round the clock.
Another incident occurred the previous Friday night – well, Saturday morning really – as I discovered a towel had gone missing from the washing line. At about 10.00 a.m. on Saturday, I saw a bunch of lads walk past the house, one of whom I recognised, and he had my towel slung over his shoulder. I called after them and told them the towel looked suspiciously like one that went missing off the line. They said that they had found it on the memorial in the park, apologised and put it back. Well, at least the towel had an exciting night. But I ask you! Kids wandering the streets with cans of lager at 10 in the morning – someone should be watching what they're up to surely!
John Denham, now minister for this new DUIS was on about it on telly this morning saying they needed to tackle the problem. Well, Mr. Einstein, it's simple really – get more coppers on the streets stopping then doing it! It is not rocket science! If they were my kids I would be down the park embarrassing them not going 'ooh, what can you do?' there's loads that can be done. I blame the parents – useless bastards!
I don't know! This school holiday it's gone stupid. For example, I got woken up at 3.00 a.m. in the early hours of Friday by what sounded like muntered teenagers shouting and screaming and I yelled out of the window to tell them to shut up and 'phoned the police to report a disturbance but it was a waste of time. Nobody gives a toss about all these kids wandering the streets and drinking round the clock.
Another incident occurred the previous Friday night – well, Saturday morning really – as I discovered a towel had gone missing from the washing line. At about 10.00 a.m. on Saturday, I saw a bunch of lads walk past the house, one of whom I recognised, and he had my towel slung over his shoulder. I called after them and told them the towel looked suspiciously like one that went missing off the line. They said that they had found it on the memorial in the park, apologised and put it back. Well, at least the towel had an exciting night. But I ask you! Kids wandering the streets with cans of lager at 10 in the morning – someone should be watching what they're up to surely!
John Denham, now minister for this new DUIS was on about it on telly this morning saying they needed to tackle the problem. Well, Mr. Einstein, it's simple really – get more coppers on the streets stopping then doing it! It is not rocket science! If they were my kids I would be down the park embarrassing them not going 'ooh, what can you do?' there's loads that can be done. I blame the parents – useless bastards!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Dirty Greedy Bastards
Yesterday we went to Halifax Show. We looked at the funny vegetables and flower arrangements and bees and some crafts. We bought some cake and nice homemade stuff in jars, then had a pause before looking at more stalls and watching dogs doing tricks. We then bought pork pies for lunch and watched some more dog tricks and then went to see the funny chickens. There was one that was absolutely huge! I have no idea how they get it so big! After that, we had a pint of Black Sheep and watched some more dogs – this time with carts, then some horses with carts, then came home.
Most enjoyable, bu the day was marred slightly by a lack of sheep, goats and cattle due to the outbreak of foot and mouth in Surrey the other week. I thought movement restrictions didn't apply outside the exclusion zone anymore but perhaps they got the news too late in Halifax. Anyway, I think it's daft. It looks like that Meriel research lab is to blame anyhow. I bet they get away with it – it's like the Bernard Matthews bird flu scandal. He ends up getting compensation from taxpayers money. Outrageous!
And talking of outrageous, looks like the unscrupulous acts of venture capitalists has finally burst the bubble on the false economy based on loans of non-existent money. So now we all have to suffer – the dirty greedy bastards!
Most enjoyable, bu the day was marred slightly by a lack of sheep, goats and cattle due to the outbreak of foot and mouth in Surrey the other week. I thought movement restrictions didn't apply outside the exclusion zone anymore but perhaps they got the news too late in Halifax. Anyway, I think it's daft. It looks like that Meriel research lab is to blame anyhow. I bet they get away with it – it's like the Bernard Matthews bird flu scandal. He ends up getting compensation from taxpayers money. Outrageous!
And talking of outrageous, looks like the unscrupulous acts of venture capitalists has finally burst the bubble on the false economy based on loans of non-existent money. So now we all have to suffer – the dirty greedy bastards!
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Who is the Real Public Enemy
A friend came round last night to ask if I'd help get her daughter out of nick. She had been arrested following trouble at t'mill and seeing as mum was the complainant, another appropriate adult had to go down to the police station. I was told it was just to collect her, but in fact she had to be processed and interviewed in front of me. D looked scared to death when they brought her out of the cells and she was surprised to see me. Later she said they had told her nothing about what was going on.
She was read her rights, and when asked about wanting a solicitor she seemed uncertain. As we were about to sign that she waived her right to a solicitor, I asked her if she was sure about that. She said that she would like to have one. The police looked a bit pissed off about that but explained that they had to get a duty solicitor. In the meantime, they would do the processing, which involved taking a description and mug shot, fingerprints and DNA swab.
Now hang on a minute: when did that one creep in? Apparently, all suspects are now DNA sampled, and this can be taken by force if necessary. D is just turned 12, and will now be on the national DNA database for life. My god! Which law was that in?
We were, however, impressed by the fingerprint computer – quite outstanding technology there!
After processing, D and I were asked to wait in the interview room, and I asked for drinks – D said she hadn't had anything to eat or drink all day and wasn't sure what time she'd been brought in – I think it was around 7.00 p.m.
I shall now try and relay the events and subsequent charges, according to both mother and daughter's events.
On Sunday night, some friends of D's came round to the house and asked if she was coming out. Her mum said no as it was 9.30 p.m. and too late, and she didn't want her being out with those friends as they were a bad influence. She locked the front door and hid the keys.
After some arguing, D picked up a chair and threatened to break the kitchen window. According to D, her mum dared her to do it and D went for the window with the chair but intended to stop before hitting it, was unable to stop and so it went through. According to mum, D hit the window with the chair twice until it broke. By both accounts, D then escaped through the open window.
D was out all night. She says she stayed at a friend's whose mother said she should talk to her mum, and D agreed but said she needed to calm down first so was allowed to stay over. Her mum reckons she stayed out all night in the park, because...
At 7.00 a.m. Monday morning, D cam back to the house and went into the living room. The telly was on so D thought her mum was awake, but she was asleep on the sofa bed. According to mum, D stole a packet of cigarettes and money from her handbag. According to D, she took the cigs as her friends had asked her to get some, but she didn't even see the handbag thus hadn't taken the money. D left the house again.
D returned later, and tried to go upstairs. Her mum told her to get out, and D replied it was her house too. According to mum, D attacked her, grabbing her wrists and kicking her twice. According to D, mum grabbed her hair, and D kicked her once to get her off, then ran off again.
The police later found D in the park and at first told her they were taking her home. However, I think it was at this point that the police advised mum to bring charges so that D would have to go to the police station and it would put her off crime for life.
From what I saw, it has done the trick, but it's rather a harsh lesson. D was eventually given a juvenile reprimand: the charge sheet itemised reckless damage and stealing cigarettes (she'll laugh about that later). This will be against her record until she is 18. We finally got out at 12.45 a.m., 3 hours after I arrived at the station. As we were leaving, the officers said they new D's friends well and advised her not to hang around with them. I think she had by now worked out for herself this was not a good idea.
Both D and her mum said they wanted to move away, although they had some different ideas as to where.
I've known D since she was 3 and when she was younger, she witnessed a lot of domestic violence between her parents and had no real boundaries or routines such as regular bedtimes. Until a couple of years ago, she seemed to be growing up relatively unscathed, but she is hitting adolescence with a bang.
I was glad to be there for D and I hope it really has scared her enough to stay out of trouble. But I have a bad feeling about her now being on the police database at just turned 12 (even though she acts like she's going on 16!). I have been reading some articles about the DNA database, and a lot of commentators have pointed out that it brings us one step closer to a police state. I concur, but not one of them mentions that it could be yet another way of criminalising a generation of young people. At least D didn't get an ASBO – don't get me started on that one!
Let me just ask - who is the real public enemy? D, or the system that turns her into a criminal for having a fight with her mum?
She was read her rights, and when asked about wanting a solicitor she seemed uncertain. As we were about to sign that she waived her right to a solicitor, I asked her if she was sure about that. She said that she would like to have one. The police looked a bit pissed off about that but explained that they had to get a duty solicitor. In the meantime, they would do the processing, which involved taking a description and mug shot, fingerprints and DNA swab.
Now hang on a minute: when did that one creep in? Apparently, all suspects are now DNA sampled, and this can be taken by force if necessary. D is just turned 12, and will now be on the national DNA database for life. My god! Which law was that in?
We were, however, impressed by the fingerprint computer – quite outstanding technology there!
After processing, D and I were asked to wait in the interview room, and I asked for drinks – D said she hadn't had anything to eat or drink all day and wasn't sure what time she'd been brought in – I think it was around 7.00 p.m.
I shall now try and relay the events and subsequent charges, according to both mother and daughter's events.
On Sunday night, some friends of D's came round to the house and asked if she was coming out. Her mum said no as it was 9.30 p.m. and too late, and she didn't want her being out with those friends as they were a bad influence. She locked the front door and hid the keys.
After some arguing, D picked up a chair and threatened to break the kitchen window. According to D, her mum dared her to do it and D went for the window with the chair but intended to stop before hitting it, was unable to stop and so it went through. According to mum, D hit the window with the chair twice until it broke. By both accounts, D then escaped through the open window.
D was out all night. She says she stayed at a friend's whose mother said she should talk to her mum, and D agreed but said she needed to calm down first so was allowed to stay over. Her mum reckons she stayed out all night in the park, because...
At 7.00 a.m. Monday morning, D cam back to the house and went into the living room. The telly was on so D thought her mum was awake, but she was asleep on the sofa bed. According to mum, D stole a packet of cigarettes and money from her handbag. According to D, she took the cigs as her friends had asked her to get some, but she didn't even see the handbag thus hadn't taken the money. D left the house again.
D returned later, and tried to go upstairs. Her mum told her to get out, and D replied it was her house too. According to mum, D attacked her, grabbing her wrists and kicking her twice. According to D, mum grabbed her hair, and D kicked her once to get her off, then ran off again.
The police later found D in the park and at first told her they were taking her home. However, I think it was at this point that the police advised mum to bring charges so that D would have to go to the police station and it would put her off crime for life.
From what I saw, it has done the trick, but it's rather a harsh lesson. D was eventually given a juvenile reprimand: the charge sheet itemised reckless damage and stealing cigarettes (she'll laugh about that later). This will be against her record until she is 18. We finally got out at 12.45 a.m., 3 hours after I arrived at the station. As we were leaving, the officers said they new D's friends well and advised her not to hang around with them. I think she had by now worked out for herself this was not a good idea.
Both D and her mum said they wanted to move away, although they had some different ideas as to where.
I've known D since she was 3 and when she was younger, she witnessed a lot of domestic violence between her parents and had no real boundaries or routines such as regular bedtimes. Until a couple of years ago, she seemed to be growing up relatively unscathed, but she is hitting adolescence with a bang.
I was glad to be there for D and I hope it really has scared her enough to stay out of trouble. But I have a bad feeling about her now being on the police database at just turned 12 (even though she acts like she's going on 16!). I have been reading some articles about the DNA database, and a lot of commentators have pointed out that it brings us one step closer to a police state. I concur, but not one of them mentions that it could be yet another way of criminalising a generation of young people. At least D didn't get an ASBO – don't get me started on that one!
Let me just ask - who is the real public enemy? D, or the system that turns her into a criminal for having a fight with her mum?
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Beer Garden Party
Just by chance, we found out on Friday that Man-Machine, a Kraftwerk tribute band (the best according to their poster, the only one in Europe according to one web source) were playing in one of our local pubs the following night. My websearch also taught me they were playing Bestival and supporting Chemical Brothers (ironically enough!) and Pet Shop Boys. Well, we thought, this could be great or it could be terrible, but we had to go and find out for ourselves.
We tried rallying the troops but to little avail, although we did manage to convince some very nice people that we had just met to give it a try. We took up our places in the beer garden as the band set up their technology complete with laser displays, under the covered patio. They gave us a good show with the usual favourites including Autobahn, The Robots and The Model, as well as some lesser known tracks.
Predictably, after a relatively nice day, it started to rain and they feared for their equipment and finished hastily on a few tracks from other bands including Faithless. Bravely we stuck it out, marvelling at how pretty the raindrops looked in the lasers – like green and red glitter – a bit like Christmas!
We could tell they were wondering (as were we) what on earth they were doing playing in a pub beer garden in the north of England, and at one point said 'we've never played at a garden party before'. It could only be Britain couldn't it? Sitting outside in the rain listening to electronic music! We had a chat to them as they were packing up, and I asked them what brought them up here from the Isle of Wight. It turned out that one of their wives ran a Punch tavern pub and did an article for their magazine, and they were interested in the band and asked if they could advertise them for hire to Punch pub licensees, hence why Liz, landlady of the White Swan, ended up with them in her beer garden.
Very surreal. Very fun. You can check the band out on myspace, and if you get chance, go see them!
We tried rallying the troops but to little avail, although we did manage to convince some very nice people that we had just met to give it a try. We took up our places in the beer garden as the band set up their technology complete with laser displays, under the covered patio. They gave us a good show with the usual favourites including Autobahn, The Robots and The Model, as well as some lesser known tracks.
Predictably, after a relatively nice day, it started to rain and they feared for their equipment and finished hastily on a few tracks from other bands including Faithless. Bravely we stuck it out, marvelling at how pretty the raindrops looked in the lasers – like green and red glitter – a bit like Christmas!
We could tell they were wondering (as were we) what on earth they were doing playing in a pub beer garden in the north of England, and at one point said 'we've never played at a garden party before'. It could only be Britain couldn't it? Sitting outside in the rain listening to electronic music! We had a chat to them as they were packing up, and I asked them what brought them up here from the Isle of Wight. It turned out that one of their wives ran a Punch tavern pub and did an article for their magazine, and they were interested in the band and asked if they could advertise them for hire to Punch pub licensees, hence why Liz, landlady of the White Swan, ended up with them in her beer garden.
Very surreal. Very fun. You can check the band out on myspace, and if you get chance, go see them!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Mini Glastonbury
At the risk of being boring and predictably English, I am afraid it is still the great British summer that occupies my thoughts yet again this week. It is now getting to the stage that I can't even remember the last day it didn't rain. Oh no, wait a minute! It was Thursday so only 3 days ago, but i think that was the only day of the week that was dry.
This weekend there is a music festival on here called 'World on Your doorstep'. The idea is really good – music from around the world, but by people who live in and around the region. As the weather was shit, we went down quite late yesterday and saw just a few acts, the highlight being The Ukrainians who do a mix of trad., original and cover tracks. Very funny in places, especially Anarchy in the Ukraine.
Food and drink (no alcohol) was in the form of Asian cuisine, West Indian BBQ (I think) and an organic fairtrade cafe, ran by floaty organic fairtrade hippies whose heads were obviously full of alfalfa sprouts thus rendering them incapable of serving anyone faster than snail pace. They were cute though and I loved the 'tour of the cakes'. Our mate got quite irate at their ineptitude and tendency to go off and do a spot of washing up when there was a queue of people waiting for coffee.
The muddy kids and dogs were enough to cheer anyone up though. A few toddlers had made an impromptu paddling pool amidst the soaking grass, and many a game was spotted which involved making your mates slip in the mud in interesting and amusing ways. Well, you might as well have a laugh otherwise you'd just kill yourself wouldn't you? It's like having our own mini Glastonbury!
This impression is further enhanced by the presence of a number of middle aged and elderly people in strange clothes with a tendency to partake in strange dancing and generally behave as if they are from another planet. It is a constant source of mystery where these people go the rest of the time. You may occasionally see them in the organic grocers but never in the co-op or anywhere else normal. Where do they hide?
This weekend there is a music festival on here called 'World on Your doorstep'. The idea is really good – music from around the world, but by people who live in and around the region. As the weather was shit, we went down quite late yesterday and saw just a few acts, the highlight being The Ukrainians who do a mix of trad., original and cover tracks. Very funny in places, especially Anarchy in the Ukraine.
Food and drink (no alcohol) was in the form of Asian cuisine, West Indian BBQ (I think) and an organic fairtrade cafe, ran by floaty organic fairtrade hippies whose heads were obviously full of alfalfa sprouts thus rendering them incapable of serving anyone faster than snail pace. They were cute though and I loved the 'tour of the cakes'. Our mate got quite irate at their ineptitude and tendency to go off and do a spot of washing up when there was a queue of people waiting for coffee.
The muddy kids and dogs were enough to cheer anyone up though. A few toddlers had made an impromptu paddling pool amidst the soaking grass, and many a game was spotted which involved making your mates slip in the mud in interesting and amusing ways. Well, you might as well have a laugh otherwise you'd just kill yourself wouldn't you? It's like having our own mini Glastonbury!
This impression is further enhanced by the presence of a number of middle aged and elderly people in strange clothes with a tendency to partake in strange dancing and generally behave as if they are from another planet. It is a constant source of mystery where these people go the rest of the time. You may occasionally see them in the organic grocers but never in the co-op or anywhere else normal. Where do they hide?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Forty days more?
Today is St. Swithin's day, and they say that if it rains today, it will rain for the next forty days and forty nights. And guess what? Yep, it rained. Even the weatherman this morning seemed to believe this folk adage. Oh dear!
Apparently, the following rhyme has been known since Elizabethan times:
'St Swithin’s Day, if it does rainFull forty days, it will remainSt Swithin’s Day, if it be fairFor forty days, t'will rain no more.'
I must admit to never having heard this before, so thanks to Woodlands Junior School, Kent for their informative website. I have found that lots of schools have informative websites, which I think is brilliant.
Anyway, I went on about the crappy British summer last time, so maybe I should change the record. Actually, yesterday was quite nice – there was even some sun, and there were at least 2 days last week when it didn't rain, although it wasn't what you'd call warm.
Last night we went to the pub for the first time since the smoking ban and it was quite odd.
Predictably, lots of people were outside smoking but as the night wore on it got a bit chilly for al fresco drinking so there was lots of coming and going... and some impromptu entertainment from a couple of women doing dirty dancing. Very funny!
Apparently, the following rhyme has been known since Elizabethan times:
'St Swithin’s Day, if it does rainFull forty days, it will remainSt Swithin’s Day, if it be fairFor forty days, t'will rain no more.'
I must admit to never having heard this before, so thanks to Woodlands Junior School, Kent for their informative website. I have found that lots of schools have informative websites, which I think is brilliant.
Anyway, I went on about the crappy British summer last time, so maybe I should change the record. Actually, yesterday was quite nice – there was even some sun, and there were at least 2 days last week when it didn't rain, although it wasn't what you'd call warm.
Last night we went to the pub for the first time since the smoking ban and it was quite odd.
Predictably, lots of people were outside smoking but as the night wore on it got a bit chilly for al fresco drinking so there was lots of coming and going... and some impromptu entertainment from a couple of women doing dirty dancing. Very funny!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Summer of Mud
Despite the fact that I read in the paper yesterday that it is too early to write off the British summer, I am becoming increasingly resigned to the fact that it is going to be a complete wash-out. After a fabulous April, May was mixed, but June and the beginning of July have been horrendous. While we were experiencing unseasonal weather conditions in Northern Ireland at the end of June, much of England was experiencing some of the worst flooding in years and Glastonbury was a predictable mud-bath.
An item on the Countryfile programme this morning highlighted the environmental impact of festivals (of which there are about 400 this summer) including the amount of rubbish and leftover belongings scattering the Glastonbury site. This included 10,000 tents, and not all of them of the cheap pop-up variety. I was astounded at the waste! Furthermore, I (along with those who leave their tents behind I guess) assumed these would be recycled, but many end up as landfill. I suppose there are just too many of them. People should be ashamed of themselves!
Yesterday we went to an event that was part of Garforth Arts festival called 'Playground Party' We went because there were some good acts on, including Eliza Carthy and the Ratcatchers, Kate Rusby and Courtney Pine (we didn't stay for him). However, it was a small event attended mainly by local people and I was quite surprised at the calibre of musicians they had got to play there. One of the good things about it was that there was hardly any rubbish lying around. Most people seemed to be disposing of it responsibly and a group of young people were also going around collecting waste.
The item on Countryfile raised the issue of whether urban festivals were more environmental, and I have to say that the Garforth event did seem to have less of an environmental impact. Mind you, I had to drive there as the trains stop so bloody early, which was a shame as I do like to use public transport where possible.
If the powers-that-be really are serious about wanting us to 'go green' they should make it easy for us such as having a truly affordable integrated public transport system, collecting ALL our recyclable waste (see my blog 20 May 2007) and stop hectoring us!
Meanwhile, back to the weather. What plans can we make for future festivals and camping trips with all this damn rain? Fields and parks are so waterlogged still that casualties already include the Bradford Mela, the Mytholmroyd Gala, and possibly the Huddersfield carnival. Hardly earth-shattering events I grant you, but the fact that they're not going ahead makes the crappy summer even more dismal. So now we will probably plan an escape to the Med., but so is everyone else so what hope for a cheap bargain? Oh well, I guess if we don't go abroad we can feel smug about the size of our 'carbon footprint (sic).
An item on the Countryfile programme this morning highlighted the environmental impact of festivals (of which there are about 400 this summer) including the amount of rubbish and leftover belongings scattering the Glastonbury site. This included 10,000 tents, and not all of them of the cheap pop-up variety. I was astounded at the waste! Furthermore, I (along with those who leave their tents behind I guess) assumed these would be recycled, but many end up as landfill. I suppose there are just too many of them. People should be ashamed of themselves!
Yesterday we went to an event that was part of Garforth Arts festival called 'Playground Party' We went because there were some good acts on, including Eliza Carthy and the Ratcatchers, Kate Rusby and Courtney Pine (we didn't stay for him). However, it was a small event attended mainly by local people and I was quite surprised at the calibre of musicians they had got to play there. One of the good things about it was that there was hardly any rubbish lying around. Most people seemed to be disposing of it responsibly and a group of young people were also going around collecting waste.
The item on Countryfile raised the issue of whether urban festivals were more environmental, and I have to say that the Garforth event did seem to have less of an environmental impact. Mind you, I had to drive there as the trains stop so bloody early, which was a shame as I do like to use public transport where possible.
If the powers-that-be really are serious about wanting us to 'go green' they should make it easy for us such as having a truly affordable integrated public transport system, collecting ALL our recyclable waste (see my blog 20 May 2007) and stop hectoring us!
Meanwhile, back to the weather. What plans can we make for future festivals and camping trips with all this damn rain? Fields and parks are so waterlogged still that casualties already include the Bradford Mela, the Mytholmroyd Gala, and possibly the Huddersfield carnival. Hardly earth-shattering events I grant you, but the fact that they're not going ahead makes the crappy summer even more dismal. So now we will probably plan an escape to the Med., but so is everyone else so what hope for a cheap bargain? Oh well, I guess if we don't go abroad we can feel smug about the size of our 'carbon footprint (sic).
Monday, July 02, 2007
Notes on a Small Province
We have just returned from a holiday in Northern Ireland, and I think it is no exaggeration to say it was the funniest holiday ever. This was due to a number of factors; firstly, the extreme weather conditions including torrential showers, gale-force winds and night-time temperatures of around 5 degrees Celsius (at the end of June for God's sake!).
Thankfully, our brand new weather-proof tent bought specifically in anticipation of such adverse conditions, withstood the test with flying colours. We even managed to cook dinner most nights. In fact, it became part of the challenge. Even on the last night in camp when we said we would go out to a restaurant if it rained, we changed our minds.
Secondly, the people are quite funny, and I don't mean this in a horrid way but in the new era of the re-convened assembly where politicians from all sides seem to at last be talking and getting on, we got the distinct impression that there might be tolerance, but in many cases that's as much as we can hope for and we should be thankful they can even manage that. Many towns literally wear their colours on their sleeve, and you can tell as soon as you drive in whether it is inhabited by people of English, Scottish or Irish descent, or it is mixed.
Unusually for us, we avoided most public houses as they looked uninviting to say the least. Many had blacked-out windows so you couldn't check it out before entering the door, and you would have had to squeeze past one or more dodgy-looking fellas loitering around the entrance smoking, it already being illegal to smoke inside public premises in Northern Ireland (joined by England yesterday so we got an early glimpse of things to come...). So what's funny here, you say? Well, in the mornings, Radio Ulster has a 'phone in and whatever the topic, it turns into a slanging match between the two sides. The best one was arguing about car parking in the hospital and a woman shouting at the representative of the parking company whose head office happens to be in London 'It's because we're Irish. You hate us 'cos we're Irish!' On another occasion, over an argument concerning taxi pick-up rules, one vociferous caller instructed a man on the other side of the divide to 'fuck off and go fuck yerself!' Charming! You can certainly see how this kind of attitude boils over into violence.
Indeed, there were a few reports of rather nasty murder cases in the papers and on the radio while we were there. In one case, a woman accused her sister who had killed her own husband of being 'an afterbirth .... my ma chucked away the wrong bit'. In another case, the victim feigned death and overheard his attacker asking a mate to go and fetch a saw so he could cut up the body to dispose of it! Jeez!
Another funny aspect for us was how little money we spent, and not for want of trying. It is the only UK holiday where I've spent below-budget. Obviously, not going to pubs much helped, but also lunches when we were out during the day were really cheap cafe affairs, usually involving chips or champ (mashed potatoes with scallions/spring onions in case you were wondering). And hardly anything to buy, although we did get some cheap nice clothes – just as well as the summer clothes we brought were completely useless and we ran out of warm pants and fleeces!
Anyway, we had a really good time in spite of/because of these idiosyncrasies, and I learned a lot about the place and the roots of the troubles etc. (Derry is a fascinating place to visit to get historical perspective). It will be interesting to see if the new era of peace lasts (I really hope so) and if the expected increase in tourism will change the place and there will be gourmet restaurants outside of Belfast (which is fab by the way; may write more about that later!)
Thankfully, our brand new weather-proof tent bought specifically in anticipation of such adverse conditions, withstood the test with flying colours. We even managed to cook dinner most nights. In fact, it became part of the challenge. Even on the last night in camp when we said we would go out to a restaurant if it rained, we changed our minds.
Secondly, the people are quite funny, and I don't mean this in a horrid way but in the new era of the re-convened assembly where politicians from all sides seem to at last be talking and getting on, we got the distinct impression that there might be tolerance, but in many cases that's as much as we can hope for and we should be thankful they can even manage that. Many towns literally wear their colours on their sleeve, and you can tell as soon as you drive in whether it is inhabited by people of English, Scottish or Irish descent, or it is mixed.
Unusually for us, we avoided most public houses as they looked uninviting to say the least. Many had blacked-out windows so you couldn't check it out before entering the door, and you would have had to squeeze past one or more dodgy-looking fellas loitering around the entrance smoking, it already being illegal to smoke inside public premises in Northern Ireland (joined by England yesterday so we got an early glimpse of things to come...). So what's funny here, you say? Well, in the mornings, Radio Ulster has a 'phone in and whatever the topic, it turns into a slanging match between the two sides. The best one was arguing about car parking in the hospital and a woman shouting at the representative of the parking company whose head office happens to be in London 'It's because we're Irish. You hate us 'cos we're Irish!' On another occasion, over an argument concerning taxi pick-up rules, one vociferous caller instructed a man on the other side of the divide to 'fuck off and go fuck yerself!' Charming! You can certainly see how this kind of attitude boils over into violence.
Indeed, there were a few reports of rather nasty murder cases in the papers and on the radio while we were there. In one case, a woman accused her sister who had killed her own husband of being 'an afterbirth .... my ma chucked away the wrong bit'. In another case, the victim feigned death and overheard his attacker asking a mate to go and fetch a saw so he could cut up the body to dispose of it! Jeez!
Another funny aspect for us was how little money we spent, and not for want of trying. It is the only UK holiday where I've spent below-budget. Obviously, not going to pubs much helped, but also lunches when we were out during the day were really cheap cafe affairs, usually involving chips or champ (mashed potatoes with scallions/spring onions in case you were wondering). And hardly anything to buy, although we did get some cheap nice clothes – just as well as the summer clothes we brought were completely useless and we ran out of warm pants and fleeces!
Anyway, we had a really good time in spite of/because of these idiosyncrasies, and I learned a lot about the place and the roots of the troubles etc. (Derry is a fascinating place to visit to get historical perspective). It will be interesting to see if the new era of peace lasts (I really hope so) and if the expected increase in tourism will change the place and there will be gourmet restaurants outside of Belfast (which is fab by the way; may write more about that later!)
Friday, June 15, 2007
Stand up and winge!
I may have mentioned before, but it annoyed me yet again this week how much English people winge about stuff but put up with it. I refer specifically to the impending ban on smoking in all public places, which hardly anyone I know agrees with, whether they smoke or not. Most people do agree that smoking is not healthy and would support a policy where premises such as pubs and clubs were obliged to provide no smoking areas, but to impose a total ban is seen as unnecessary and extreme by the majority of people I have talked to.
It is the fact that more and more, in practically every area of life, we are being told what we can can't do. This week, the 'non-smoking police' came to visit my boss, and the next day, a sign appeared on the door to the premises saying “it is illegal to smoke on these premises”. I felt like writing underneath “not 'til 1st July!” Our offices are already no smoking and people go outside for a cig. I asked my boss why the sign was already up and she informed me that that was the guidance. For a lefty who probably spent time at Greenham Common in her younger days, I found this a surprisingly conformist attitude. Even more so as I haven't seen these signs up anywhere else as yet.
One thing that may not have dawned on a lot of people is that if a professional comes to visit you at home in a work capacity, it is illegal for you to smoke while they are there. Firstly, where do they get off telling you what you can and can't do in your own space, and secondly, what about people that need lots of care at home and people like nurses are there all or most of the time? It really is ludicrous.
The point is though, that nobody ever stands up and says 'no!' anymore. We will winge and but we will comply. Everyone says there's no point actively opposing the ban as no-one else will. This is tru if you have that attitude, but if people stuck together, we could change things, but no-one will.
Someone said yesterday 'what's next?' Well, as reported in the press last week, it's clamping down on people drinking wine at home. Excuse me, but as above this is totally ridiculous. What I do in my home is my business, whether the powers that be think it's good for me or not. Fuck off and stop telling us what to do!
It is the fact that more and more, in practically every area of life, we are being told what we can can't do. This week, the 'non-smoking police' came to visit my boss, and the next day, a sign appeared on the door to the premises saying “it is illegal to smoke on these premises”. I felt like writing underneath “not 'til 1st July!” Our offices are already no smoking and people go outside for a cig. I asked my boss why the sign was already up and she informed me that that was the guidance. For a lefty who probably spent time at Greenham Common in her younger days, I found this a surprisingly conformist attitude. Even more so as I haven't seen these signs up anywhere else as yet.
One thing that may not have dawned on a lot of people is that if a professional comes to visit you at home in a work capacity, it is illegal for you to smoke while they are there. Firstly, where do they get off telling you what you can and can't do in your own space, and secondly, what about people that need lots of care at home and people like nurses are there all or most of the time? It really is ludicrous.
The point is though, that nobody ever stands up and says 'no!' anymore. We will winge and but we will comply. Everyone says there's no point actively opposing the ban as no-one else will. This is tru if you have that attitude, but if people stuck together, we could change things, but no-one will.
Someone said yesterday 'what's next?' Well, as reported in the press last week, it's clamping down on people drinking wine at home. Excuse me, but as above this is totally ridiculous. What I do in my home is my business, whether the powers that be think it's good for me or not. Fuck off and stop telling us what to do!
Monday, June 11, 2007
History Repeating
We often use the phrase 'history repeating itself', but do we really think about how true this phrase is, especially when it comes to political shennanigans?
The fantastic series “Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain” puts things frighteningly into perspective. As a child, I was brought up in a household where opinion was largely;y influence by my father, who was a staunch labour trades unionist. I think he genuinely thought that the sun shone out of Harold Wilson's backside. Either he didn't know, or was in denial about, what a two-faced spin merchant he really was!
I watched last week's episode of Andrew Marr's programme with a deepening sense of foreboding as I realised the stark parallels between what was happening then and what is happening now and in particular, how much like our very own Tony Blair, Mr. Wilson was.
Example:
1970's
Q: So, Mr. Wilson, why didn't you tell the Americans where to get off during Vietnam?
A: Err, because they were bankrolling the UK.
2000's
Q: So, Mr. Blair, why are we following the Yanks into Iraq?
A: Err, 'cos they're still bankrolling us. (Actually we just paid off our debt from WW2 so can we pull out now please?)
The fantastic series “Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain” puts things frighteningly into perspective. As a child, I was brought up in a household where opinion was largely;y influence by my father, who was a staunch labour trades unionist. I think he genuinely thought that the sun shone out of Harold Wilson's backside. Either he didn't know, or was in denial about, what a two-faced spin merchant he really was!
I watched last week's episode of Andrew Marr's programme with a deepening sense of foreboding as I realised the stark parallels between what was happening then and what is happening now and in particular, how much like our very own Tony Blair, Mr. Wilson was.
Example:
1970's
Q: So, Mr. Wilson, why didn't you tell the Americans where to get off during Vietnam?
A: Err, because they were bankrolling the UK.
2000's
Q: So, Mr. Blair, why are we following the Yanks into Iraq?
A: Err, 'cos they're still bankrolling us. (Actually we just paid off our debt from WW2 so can we pull out now please?)
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Sun and soccer equals sirens
It is a constant source of wonder to me that there is such a close correlation between sunny weather and unruly drunken behaviour. The correlation becomes stronger if a. it is a weekend or bank holiday b. there is a significant football match afoot.
All of these factors were present on Friday evening. After the recent bad weather, it had been a lovely sunny afternoon and England were playing Brazil in a football friendly. This brought out the inevitable crowds of blokes to drink copious amounts of beer and shout racist abuse at the pub telly. England narrowly escaped victory through the now-too-inevitably painful occurrence of the opposition scoring a goal in the last minute of injury time. Still, at least they didn't lose so not too much fighting and trouble afterwards.
The next day, however, the fine weather continued and as we meandered through town on a pleasant stroll, the familiar sound of sirens wailing and the sight of emergency vehicles screeching down the main road could be witnessed at regular intervals throughout the course of the day, and into the evening. What's wrong with people ? Why can't they just
enjoy the moment, and sit in the sun with a nice ice cream or pop? It would make for a much quieter life!
All of these factors were present on Friday evening. After the recent bad weather, it had been a lovely sunny afternoon and England were playing Brazil in a football friendly. This brought out the inevitable crowds of blokes to drink copious amounts of beer and shout racist abuse at the pub telly. England narrowly escaped victory through the now-too-inevitably painful occurrence of the opposition scoring a goal in the last minute of injury time. Still, at least they didn't lose so not too much fighting and trouble afterwards.
The next day, however, the fine weather continued and as we meandered through town on a pleasant stroll, the familiar sound of sirens wailing and the sight of emergency vehicles screeching down the main road could be witnessed at regular intervals throughout the course of the day, and into the evening. What's wrong with people ? Why can't they just
enjoy the moment, and sit in the sun with a nice ice cream or pop? It would make for a much quieter life!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Un-work ethic
We had a conversation last night with someone that I have known for eight or nine years, who was trying to convince me that there was no need to work. I have always known that she is a hard-core non-worker, and that she does lots of different things, some of which happen to earn her some money, and that as long as she has beer funds she seems happy. I have no problem with this at all.
However, when I tried to explain that part of the reason I work is that I can, and I have education and skills that are useful to others, she didn't get it at all. She just couldn't understand why people would want to work at all,and ascertained that you didn't need money. It was pointed out to her that apart from anything else, there was the mortgage on the house to pay. She conceded that this required dosh, but then said if we paid the house off that there would no longer be a need to work. Okay, what about holidays and stuff? She said is she wanted to go on holiday she would get some kind of a job and save up. She also gets her clothes from charity shops and her top price to pay for a jumper would be £4. Fine, we said, but for this economics to work, someone else had to have bought the jumper at full price in the first place and eventually donate it to the charity shop. This she conceded, and then she saw our point that some of us did have to work.
It's quite funny I think what strangeness people think, what little grasp they have of how the economy and the world work. What do they fill their days with? Or their heads?
However, when I tried to explain that part of the reason I work is that I can, and I have education and skills that are useful to others, she didn't get it at all. She just couldn't understand why people would want to work at all,and ascertained that you didn't need money. It was pointed out to her that apart from anything else, there was the mortgage on the house to pay. She conceded that this required dosh, but then said if we paid the house off that there would no longer be a need to work. Okay, what about holidays and stuff? She said is she wanted to go on holiday she would get some kind of a job and save up. She also gets her clothes from charity shops and her top price to pay for a jumper would be £4. Fine, we said, but for this economics to work, someone else had to have bought the jumper at full price in the first place and eventually donate it to the charity shop. This she conceded, and then she saw our point that some of us did have to work.
It's quite funny I think what strangeness people think, what little grasp they have of how the economy and the world work. What do they fill their days with? Or their heads?
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Recycling fracas
Why oh why oh why don't the government have one strategy for recycling instead of letting each local authority decide how they will implement the recycling agenda? At the moment, there is a recycling service in our district. It is ran by a voluntary organisation who get paid by the council, but as they are paid on weight, it's not cost-effective to collect plastic. I have complained to the council about this in the past. I have now located another local project which does take old plastic for recycling, and it is a relatively easy matter for us to take our plastic there as it is within walking distance. Obviously though this isn't the case for other people who don't live so centrally.
Incidentally, since I started recycling our plastic rubbish, our dustbin is about one third as full as it was before. Just shows you how much packaging you get nowadays. Next challenge is to get less in the first place!
In one of the metropolitan districts adjacent to ours, there are two recycling systems in place depending on where you live. One system involves taking all recyclable rubbish from people's homes, the other doesn't. How on earth do they expect people to bother, when the systems are different, often confusing, and can involve a lot of extra work?
It's about time they just said that all councils had to take all recyclable materials and sort it out. End of.
Incidentally, since I started recycling our plastic rubbish, our dustbin is about one third as full as it was before. Just shows you how much packaging you get nowadays. Next challenge is to get less in the first place!
In one of the metropolitan districts adjacent to ours, there are two recycling systems in place depending on where you live. One system involves taking all recyclable rubbish from people's homes, the other doesn't. How on earth do they expect people to bother, when the systems are different, often confusing, and can involve a lot of extra work?
It's about time they just said that all councils had to take all recyclable materials and sort it out. End of.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
TB or not TB...
Following the announcement by Tony Blair that he will announce his retirement as PM to the Queen on 27th June, we were speculating on what he might do for a job when he stands down.
The obvious would be public speaker/writer/commentator, possibly an ambassador (I love the thought of sending him to Afghanistan or Iraq for this job!). Some people think he might dedicate time to promoting inter-faith love, peace and understanding (I guess even the staunchest critic would admit success in this arena in Northern Ireland, although they would point out that the previous administration, particularly John Major, made major strides here first).
I think he should consider a more creative career for a laugh. What about stand up comedian or impersonator? He could put John Culshaw out of a job, and take the piss out of Gordon. Not that I think Gordie will last long... if the inevitable happens and he ends up as the next PM, I reckon the British electorate will vote Tory at the next election. Someone on telly said that you could sum up Blair's legacy in two words: “David Cameron”. Enough said.
The obvious would be public speaker/writer/commentator, possibly an ambassador (I love the thought of sending him to Afghanistan or Iraq for this job!). Some people think he might dedicate time to promoting inter-faith love, peace and understanding (I guess even the staunchest critic would admit success in this arena in Northern Ireland, although they would point out that the previous administration, particularly John Major, made major strides here first).
I think he should consider a more creative career for a laugh. What about stand up comedian or impersonator? He could put John Culshaw out of a job, and take the piss out of Gordon. Not that I think Gordie will last long... if the inevitable happens and he ends up as the next PM, I reckon the British electorate will vote Tory at the next election. Someone on telly said that you could sum up Blair's legacy in two words: “David Cameron”. Enough said.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
No overall control
When will the powers that be learn that British people really don't care about politics in the proper sense, to a really deep and unprecedented level nowadays?
The local council elections for England, Wales and Scotland last week really show that there is no real party allegiance anymore. Voters will vote for another party on a whim now, like to teach them a lesson. So much so, that there are now 157 councils who have 'No overall control'. Expect some weird coalitions coming soon!
Then there's the loony single issue brigade. This has resulted in, for example, Boston council in Lincolshire being controlled by an independent group wanting a bypass. I ask you! Is that going to get the rubbish collected and keep the streets safe from crime?
Not that I care that much about the main parties maintaining power. I mean, I have known for decades that it's all a waste of time. Unfortunately the careerists in the Town Hall and Westminster continue to peddle the myth that we need them. Hmm!
The local council elections for England, Wales and Scotland last week really show that there is no real party allegiance anymore. Voters will vote for another party on a whim now, like to teach them a lesson. So much so, that there are now 157 councils who have 'No overall control'. Expect some weird coalitions coming soon!
Then there's the loony single issue brigade. This has resulted in, for example, Boston council in Lincolshire being controlled by an independent group wanting a bypass. I ask you! Is that going to get the rubbish collected and keep the streets safe from crime?
Not that I care that much about the main parties maintaining power. I mean, I have known for decades that it's all a waste of time. Unfortunately the careerists in the Town Hall and Westminster continue to peddle the myth that we need them. Hmm!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Standing shoes only
A couple of funny things happened while I was out doing errands this weekend.
I went to the chemist and someone I know by just his nickname was waiting for a script. When the pharmacist came out be called 'Mr Mcfly' and it was this acquaintance of mine. I was temted to ask him where the Delorean was parked!
I was in a trendy shoe shop, just having a browse. A woman was returning a pair of shoes. They were in their box so I didn't see them. She was explaining patiently to the shop assistant: 'it's alright when I stand in them, but it's when I try to walk it's a problem'. It was very hard not to laugh as the assiistant asked if she wanted a different pair (maybe another colour shoe would be more comfortable, perhaps?) Obviously these were standing shoes, not walking shoes!
I went to the chemist and someone I know by just his nickname was waiting for a script. When the pharmacist came out be called 'Mr Mcfly' and it was this acquaintance of mine. I was temted to ask him where the Delorean was parked!
I was in a trendy shoe shop, just having a browse. A woman was returning a pair of shoes. They were in their box so I didn't see them. She was explaining patiently to the shop assistant: 'it's alright when I stand in them, but it's when I try to walk it's a problem'. It was very hard not to laugh as the assiistant asked if she wanted a different pair (maybe another colour shoe would be more comfortable, perhaps?) Obviously these were standing shoes, not walking shoes!
Friday, April 20, 2007
Just goes to show...
Well, I did get a response to my e-mail complaining about the stupid pavement caff regs. It was quite funny though as it was obviously a standard letter, and the second part definitely hadn't been written by the same person as the first part, as the style was completely different. I know I said a while back that I had decided to get into this constructive complaining thing, but you just get these crappy standard responses back which makes me wonder what's the point? They just do what they like anyway, even though no-one hardly agrees with them. We English are so good at wingeing about stuff, and then complying.
It's like the ban on smoking in public places. Everyone just says 'oh well, we'll have to do it'. If everyone (well, the smokers) refused to comply, what would they do? Put us all in prison? I of course hope not to be smoking by the time of the ban which is 1st July. However, it's not going too well so far. I had to come off Zyban a couple of weeks ago as I got really depressed, and there was some other stuff going on so I really couldn't be doing with the mental effort of not smoking on top of everything else. I am aiming to try again v. soon though. I ought to just bite the bullet and go cold turkey!
It's like the ban on smoking in public places. Everyone just says 'oh well, we'll have to do it'. If everyone (well, the smokers) refused to comply, what would they do? Put us all in prison? I of course hope not to be smoking by the time of the ban which is 1st July. However, it's not going too well so far. I had to come off Zyban a couple of weeks ago as I got really depressed, and there was some other stuff going on so I really couldn't be doing with the mental effort of not smoking on top of everything else. I am aiming to try again v. soon though. I ought to just bite the bullet and go cold turkey!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Miserable gits
I was absolutely astonished to read about our local council’s plans for regulating pavement cafes.
The regulations include that there must be a 1 metre high fence around the tables and chairs, that there must be a 1.8 metre space between the punters and the rest of the public, and that plastic crockery has to be used. Furthermore, café owners have to pay £300 for the privilege and £3000 a year liability insurance.
The main square and surrounding area have recently been pedestrianised in our little town, and as we have just had a stunningly gorgeous weekend, the streets were full of people sitting outside enjoying a drink and/or food, there were buskers everywhere and it was like being on holiday in the Med. These ridiculous regulations are bound to adversely affect the character and economy of the town. I really think our council have got nothing better to do than come up with poxy regulations to make life more shit for people, and get more money out of them.
As if this wasn’t enough, we have just been informed within the last fortnight that both the annual fireworks display on bonfire night and the carnival held in June won’t go ahead anymore due to a lack of volunteers and too many health & safety regulations. It’s almost as if they want to ruin this town – I don’t know why because it creates a lot of wealth for the area. They just can’t stand seeing people enjoying themselves can they? The miserable money-grabbing bastards!
I have sent an e-mail of complaint but I’m not holding my breath.
The regulations include that there must be a 1 metre high fence around the tables and chairs, that there must be a 1.8 metre space between the punters and the rest of the public, and that plastic crockery has to be used. Furthermore, café owners have to pay £300 for the privilege and £3000 a year liability insurance.
The main square and surrounding area have recently been pedestrianised in our little town, and as we have just had a stunningly gorgeous weekend, the streets were full of people sitting outside enjoying a drink and/or food, there were buskers everywhere and it was like being on holiday in the Med. These ridiculous regulations are bound to adversely affect the character and economy of the town. I really think our council have got nothing better to do than come up with poxy regulations to make life more shit for people, and get more money out of them.
As if this wasn’t enough, we have just been informed within the last fortnight that both the annual fireworks display on bonfire night and the carnival held in June won’t go ahead anymore due to a lack of volunteers and too many health & safety regulations. It’s almost as if they want to ruin this town – I don’t know why because it creates a lot of wealth for the area. They just can’t stand seeing people enjoying themselves can they? The miserable money-grabbing bastards!
I have sent an e-mail of complaint but I’m not holding my breath.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Pace Eggy Time
It’s that time of year again! One of the nice things about living out in the sticks, is that there are a number of local traditions, many of which revolve around drinking, and ye olde Pace Egg play on Good Friday is one of (if not) the best. This involves the Heptonstall Players performing the said play four times during the day, starting at around 1.00 ish, with the last one at around four o’clock, and going to the local hostelry between performances.
The play is a strange affair believed to be of Middle-Eastern origin, featuring Saint George, The Black Knight (I never said it was P.C.!) and other assorted characters bashing each other with swords. We got there in time for the third performance of the day, during which Slasher managed to clatter Saint George on the head so hard that he draw blood. The mood is such that everyone is in fits of laughter, even the injured George, and the players carry on regardless. It’s a good job they’re drunk!
After the play, we retired to the local pub for a pint. The players were in there and the actor who plays the Black Knight was talking to a guy with a foreign accent. ‘You’re not English are you?’ he asked ‘No’ the other man replied. ‘Where are you from?’ ‘Argentina’ ‘What – the Argentina? The big one?’ (er, no, the one next to Bradford, I thought – how many Argentinas are there for fuck’s sake?). The Black Knight then gave his sword to a baby in a pram to play with. When will people learn, weapons and alcohol are a bad mix!
Anyway, some mates pf ours had turned up and so we stayed with them to watch the final performance but it was a waste of time for me as I couldn’t see a bloody thing. I confused one of my mates as she thought it was a traditional English play ‘Er, no,’ I said. ‘It’s from the Middle East’. ‘So what’s Saint George in it for?’ she asked ‘Because he’s from the Middle East’ I told her. She was predictably astonished at this news, as are many English people who don’t realise that George was not in fact English. Furthermore, it is likely that the whole thing about England and the Cross of Saint George was a massive branding exercise, because really there was no such thing as England until the late Saxon times.
‘So didn’t he really kill a dragon?’ She asked, then added, ‘Only kidding I know that’s not true really’
‘Well’, I replied. ‘It depends on your definition of dragon. He might have’ This did her head in completely and she shut up.
One of the funny things about the Pace Egg though is that no-one really understands it, no matter how many years they have come up to Heptonstall to watch it. It’s a mystery. But then isn’t the whole Easter thing? Ahh!
The play is a strange affair believed to be of Middle-Eastern origin, featuring Saint George, The Black Knight (I never said it was P.C.!) and other assorted characters bashing each other with swords. We got there in time for the third performance of the day, during which Slasher managed to clatter Saint George on the head so hard that he draw blood. The mood is such that everyone is in fits of laughter, even the injured George, and the players carry on regardless. It’s a good job they’re drunk!
After the play, we retired to the local pub for a pint. The players were in there and the actor who plays the Black Knight was talking to a guy with a foreign accent. ‘You’re not English are you?’ he asked ‘No’ the other man replied. ‘Where are you from?’ ‘Argentina’ ‘What – the Argentina? The big one?’ (er, no, the one next to Bradford, I thought – how many Argentinas are there for fuck’s sake?). The Black Knight then gave his sword to a baby in a pram to play with. When will people learn, weapons and alcohol are a bad mix!
Anyway, some mates pf ours had turned up and so we stayed with them to watch the final performance but it was a waste of time for me as I couldn’t see a bloody thing. I confused one of my mates as she thought it was a traditional English play ‘Er, no,’ I said. ‘It’s from the Middle East’. ‘So what’s Saint George in it for?’ she asked ‘Because he’s from the Middle East’ I told her. She was predictably astonished at this news, as are many English people who don’t realise that George was not in fact English. Furthermore, it is likely that the whole thing about England and the Cross of Saint George was a massive branding exercise, because really there was no such thing as England until the late Saxon times.
‘So didn’t he really kill a dragon?’ She asked, then added, ‘Only kidding I know that’s not true really’
‘Well’, I replied. ‘It depends on your definition of dragon. He might have’ This did her head in completely and she shut up.
One of the funny things about the Pace Egg though is that no-one really understands it, no matter how many years they have come up to Heptonstall to watch it. It’s a mystery. But then isn’t the whole Easter thing? Ahh!
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Good Luck to Daisy Diva!
Now I am going to do something completely out of character… promote a brand and a product. This is different though. I know the person who makes the stuff as she used to be a neighbour, and the products were launched for sale in a lovely shop (one of those ‘needful things’ hippy places) also owned by a neighbour.
We just happened to be passing the shop yesterday after doing some less interesting errands, and I remembered they were doing a product launch for ‘Daisy Diva’. We went in, and I bought something else we needed, then looked at the Daisy Diva range and I realised we knew the person who made them! So we went upstairs and sure enough, there she was being the hostess with the mostest, getting people to try her products and offering out coffee and cake. We tried a few things out – the massage bar and day cream are both loverly, but I was absolutely blown away by the salt body scrub. I just tried it on my hands and they felt so brilliant and soft afterwards it was amazing! So we bought some.
What is great about all this is that I know the stuff is all handmade and natural, and I am really pleased that she is getting the brand promoted as I know she’s been doing it on a small scale for a while. So good luck Daisy Diva!
We just happened to be passing the shop yesterday after doing some less interesting errands, and I remembered they were doing a product launch for ‘Daisy Diva’. We went in, and I bought something else we needed, then looked at the Daisy Diva range and I realised we knew the person who made them! So we went upstairs and sure enough, there she was being the hostess with the mostest, getting people to try her products and offering out coffee and cake. We tried a few things out – the massage bar and day cream are both loverly, but I was absolutely blown away by the salt body scrub. I just tried it on my hands and they felt so brilliant and soft afterwards it was amazing! So we bought some.
What is great about all this is that I know the stuff is all handmade and natural, and I am really pleased that she is getting the brand promoted as I know she’s been doing it on a small scale for a while. So good luck Daisy Diva!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Dirty Robbin’ Bastards!
Well, it’s easy to decide what to winge about this week. I was so incensed by Gordon Brown’s budget that I wrote a letter to the Daily Mirror. Not that I especially like that paper, but I thought I had a better chance of getting it published there than in the broadsheets as they might find the letter a bit simplistic and to-the-point – I was going for succinct. I guess I could have tried the Mail or the Express but they are just too right wing and Middle England for me. Mind you, it’s scary when you start wondering if the Tories might be the lesser of two evils… Sod it! I’m going back to being an anarchist.
Old joke for you:
Q. how do you know when a politician is lying?
A. their mouth is open
Anyway, here is the letter:
“I was quite flabbergasted to hear in today’s budget that income tax is being cut by 2%, while only last night the government announced a poxy 2% cost of living wage increase for public sector workers as it’s all they can afford apparently. Mind you, according to the Bank of England the current inflation rate is a mere 2.8%, but where they get this figure I don’t know. Have they factored in things like council tax bills (up 4.7% in my area), house prices, petrol prices… I could go on.
I am sure I am not the only one that doesn’t mind paying tax as long as we know where it’s going and isn’t being wasted on bureaucracy (well, I can dream!). This tax cut is just a cynical vote-catcher in my view and is balanced out by the abolition of the 10p rate for low income earners and the usual increases in indirect tax increases elsewhere.”
Old joke for you:
Q. how do you know when a politician is lying?
A. their mouth is open
Anyway, here is the letter:
“I was quite flabbergasted to hear in today’s budget that income tax is being cut by 2%, while only last night the government announced a poxy 2% cost of living wage increase for public sector workers as it’s all they can afford apparently. Mind you, according to the Bank of England the current inflation rate is a mere 2.8%, but where they get this figure I don’t know. Have they factored in things like council tax bills (up 4.7% in my area), house prices, petrol prices… I could go on.
I am sure I am not the only one that doesn’t mind paying tax as long as we know where it’s going and isn’t being wasted on bureaucracy (well, I can dream!). This tax cut is just a cynical vote-catcher in my view and is balanced out by the abolition of the 10p rate for low income earners and the usual increases in indirect tax increases elsewhere.”
Monday, March 19, 2007
Booker Prize – Not!
Well, my chilled out feeling didn’t last too long once I went back to work last week. It started okay with the news that we had got a Big Lottery grant and no apparent disasters had occurred while I was away, but then late4r on, a member of staff came back from a meeting and told me she was leaving at the end of the month. Thus I have to use my only space free of meetings this week doing shortlisting and interviews.
Oh well. I feel like I need a good complain as I haven’t had one for a few weeks, ,but I can’t decide which hobby horse to get on. I was going to complain about the council tax bill I just got today, then I found out we are in the lowest band. I can’t believe it’s over £900! It must be loads if you have 2 toilets! But I decided to keep quiet in case they decide to come round and re-value the house and we end up paying more…
I have managed to detract from boring old work and house-related chores occasionally to start my creative writing again. The stuff I already wrote for my book is still funny if I say so myself so I have decided to carry in with it. Only 100,000 words to go for a decent-sized book!
Oh well. I feel like I need a good complain as I haven’t had one for a few weeks, ,but I can’t decide which hobby horse to get on. I was going to complain about the council tax bill I just got today, then I found out we are in the lowest band. I can’t believe it’s over £900! It must be loads if you have 2 toilets! But I decided to keep quiet in case they decide to come round and re-value the house and we end up paying more…
I have managed to detract from boring old work and house-related chores occasionally to start my creative writing again. The stuff I already wrote for my book is still funny if I say so myself so I have decided to carry in with it. Only 100,000 words to go for a decent-sized book!
Monday, March 12, 2007
Anyone for mixed animal?
A different flavour to my blog this time . I am feeling chilled out as I have been away on holiday for a week in Istanbul and had a great time. Have a few days leave left so I am just enjoying the extra time to sort my life out a bit and taking the opportunity to do loads of internet shopping ready to have the bathroom done. The realities of work life are not set to return until Wednesday. Bliss!
As usual, we managed to have a laugh on holiday, particularly at the expense of the hideous clothes they sell everywhere. At first you wonder who buys them, and then you see the Eastern Europeans…and then there’s their favourite word which appears to be ‘Maximum’. This might not be funny out of context, but when you hear and see it everywhere it gets quite amusing. And let’s not forget the mixed animal! I almost died laughing when I saw this label in the Islamic culture museum, and then when I realised you could get kebabs made of it… mind you, have you seen how many kebabs exist in the world? And did you know they don’t all come on sticks or wrapped in bread? It was a revelation!
As usual, we managed to have a laugh on holiday, particularly at the expense of the hideous clothes they sell everywhere. At first you wonder who buys them, and then you see the Eastern Europeans…and then there’s their favourite word which appears to be ‘Maximum’. This might not be funny out of context, but when you hear and see it everywhere it gets quite amusing. And let’s not forget the mixed animal! I almost died laughing when I saw this label in the Islamic culture museum, and then when I realised you could get kebabs made of it… mind you, have you seen how many kebabs exist in the world? And did you know they don’t all come on sticks or wrapped in bread? It was a revelation!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Is this all there is?
I stopped taking Zyban just over a week ago because I started to get itchy feet and hands. I have since found out this is a really common symptom and it’s all in your head! Nonetheless, it didn’t stop ‘til the other day. The dizziness went, but appears to have come back again today, so maybe it’s just nicotine withdrawal rather than the pills. Last week I didn’t smoke at all even in the evenings, but did have a few again at the weekend. Oh well; I’m getting there!
Today I had a really riveting (sic) day at a conference which was yet again going on about how government agencies want to work with the voluntary sector (or ‘third sector’) as they call it. These things are always the same. Some people from a government agency go on about what good work we do in the voluntary sector and how they really need us, then someone from the voluntary sector goes on about how special and great we are, then there are so-called ‘workshops’ which are actually someone else spouting off about something or other, and then we go home none the wiser as to how we actually in reality get the contracts to carry out work for these statutory bodies. You have to go to these events to be seen, and everyone knows we are doing more and more work for less and less money, and keep having to bend what we do to get contracts and stay afloat, but the message never seams to get up to the top where people can really make a difference. There has to be a better way surely!
Today I had a really riveting (sic) day at a conference which was yet again going on about how government agencies want to work with the voluntary sector (or ‘third sector’) as they call it. These things are always the same. Some people from a government agency go on about what good work we do in the voluntary sector and how they really need us, then someone from the voluntary sector goes on about how special and great we are, then there are so-called ‘workshops’ which are actually someone else spouting off about something or other, and then we go home none the wiser as to how we actually in reality get the contracts to carry out work for these statutory bodies. You have to go to these events to be seen, and everyone knows we are doing more and more work for less and less money, and keep having to bend what we do to get contracts and stay afloat, but the message never seams to get up to the top where people can really make a difference. There has to be a better way surely!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Moaning Minies
I did actually stop smoking cigarettes last Monday (hooray!) I did have the odd mini- cigar on a couple of occasions in the evening. Phil reckons this isn’t too bad as you don’t inhale it – not sure this is true but at least I almost gave up. Last night I went out for the first time since I stopped, and did have a few, but as most of my social circle smoke, it is nigh impossible not to do so. Anyway, I woke up this morning really not wanting a cig., and I could really smell it on my hands so I have gone back to stopping again. I am quite pleased really, because there is a danger that if you have a few, you’ll start smoking full-time again but I haven’t. The zyban has started making me feel a bit dizzy sometimes but I am coping. Hopefully, I won’t need to take it for much longer.The other event of note this week was getting my letter published in the local paper. I was wingieng about all the wingers who write in protesting about the doing up of the town centre, don’t even get their facts right, and have a go at people like us who moved into the area because we like it. I thought it only right to point out that if it wasn’t for new people moving in, the town would be dead. Anyway, I am waiting for a certain person to write in again next week slagging me off so I can have another go at them – could be war!
My friends all thought it was ace and about time someone had a go at the moaning minies!
My friends all thought it was ace and about time someone had a go at the moaning minies!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Still Hooked
Well, I have cut down smoking a lot but I have not put any money on me actually stopping altogether by my target date of tomorrow. It is Soooo hard! My theory is that those people who think it’s easy to give up smoking are either lying or still having a crafty one (or ten) when no-one’s looking, or aren’t really addicts at all.
The funny thing is that Phil decided to go into competition mode and also started cutting down last week without the aid of medication or nicotine replacement. He is now smoking about the same as me, but whereas for me this is about half what I used to smoke, it’s about 25% for him and he is suffering quite a bit. I have therefore advised him not to try packing in altogether just yet and persevere with the reduction plan instead.
Not that he ever listens to me on these matters. He is always in denial when he’s ill so makes himself worse rather than resting. Mind you, I suppose that is unusual as most men are complete babies when they are unwell.
Back to the Zyban, what seems to be happening is that it reduces my craving for nicotine bit doesn’t eliminate it altogether so I can go longer without smoking, but still crack eventually. My record so far is 3.5 hours, expect when asleep (Ha! Ha!). I also had a few mild but weird side effects last week such as feeling odd and jabbering in meetings, and I’ve had some odd dreams of late, but otherwise nothing drastic. Mind you, I did talk to someone who got an anaphylactic attack after taking it for 2 weeks so there is still time!
The funny thing is that Phil decided to go into competition mode and also started cutting down last week without the aid of medication or nicotine replacement. He is now smoking about the same as me, but whereas for me this is about half what I used to smoke, it’s about 25% for him and he is suffering quite a bit. I have therefore advised him not to try packing in altogether just yet and persevere with the reduction plan instead.
Not that he ever listens to me on these matters. He is always in denial when he’s ill so makes himself worse rather than resting. Mind you, I suppose that is unusual as most men are complete babies when they are unwell.
Back to the Zyban, what seems to be happening is that it reduces my craving for nicotine bit doesn’t eliminate it altogether so I can go longer without smoking, but still crack eventually. My record so far is 3.5 hours, expect when asleep (Ha! Ha!). I also had a few mild but weird side effects last week such as feeling odd and jabbering in meetings, and I’ve had some odd dreams of late, but otherwise nothing drastic. Mind you, I did talk to someone who got an anaphylactic attack after taking it for 2 weeks so there is still time!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Don't mess with my head!
I have still not heard further from the BBC since my follow-up query, but I have had a response from the Council on recycling. It is quite detailed and explains the targets and how this might go up soon etc. Also says we might get the coloured wheelie bins but this would mean having about 3 bins outside the house and we barely have room for one, so I have asked for more information about this – local politics is rivetting isn’t it?
Talking of which, we now have a draft constitution for our community group to take charge of and look after the ‘community garden’. However, it looks like the council want us to buy it and if that means market rate, we may have to do some serious fund-raising. We will see. In the meantime, I need to get a solicitor to look at the constitution gratis –luckily, I do know one who lives nearby but not sure if it’s his area of expertise.
I have recently started taking the drug Zyban in a bid to stop smoking, and have begun found out how many people have drugs stories once you start to talk about it. A friend of mine has been on Seroxat (the one that makes kids kill themselves) for 12 years and has been wondering why she always feels tired, until someone told her it makes you drowsy! Another friend of mine got put on anti-depressants when she was 18 because she was ‘confused about her sexuality’. You’d think this was back in the dark ages not the 1980’s wouldn’t you? It is absolutely disgusting what they do to people’s heads when the main crime seems to be ‘not fitting in’. I am so glad I never told anyone about my feelings of detachment when I was a kid or I’d probably be addicted to valium or something! It really makes me angry how they treat people – I would like some statistics on how many people it affects, but haven’t had chance to look yet.
Will keep you posted, and also on if the Zyban works!
Talking of which, we now have a draft constitution for our community group to take charge of and look after the ‘community garden’. However, it looks like the council want us to buy it and if that means market rate, we may have to do some serious fund-raising. We will see. In the meantime, I need to get a solicitor to look at the constitution gratis –luckily, I do know one who lives nearby but not sure if it’s his area of expertise.
I have recently started taking the drug Zyban in a bid to stop smoking, and have begun found out how many people have drugs stories once you start to talk about it. A friend of mine has been on Seroxat (the one that makes kids kill themselves) for 12 years and has been wondering why she always feels tired, until someone told her it makes you drowsy! Another friend of mine got put on anti-depressants when she was 18 because she was ‘confused about her sexuality’. You’d think this was back in the dark ages not the 1980’s wouldn’t you? It is absolutely disgusting what they do to people’s heads when the main crime seems to be ‘not fitting in’. I am so glad I never told anyone about my feelings of detachment when I was a kid or I’d probably be addicted to valium or something! It really makes me angry how they treat people – I would like some statistics on how many people it affects, but haven’t had chance to look yet.
Will keep you posted, and also on if the Zyban works!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
World-class service?
I said some weeks ago that I was going to start complaining about stuff and I started in earnest last week, with two complaints. One to the local council about them not paying for plastic recycling, and the other to the BBC about the lack of digital terrestrial in the area. I thought I would post the correspondence so far as part of my blog, so the rest of the world can see that whilst the BBC might have an enviable reputation across the globe for its high quality programmes, some aspects of the technical system are a bit crap to say the least, as is the case with much of British infrastructure!
To the BBC 23 January 2007
Can you explain to me why we are continually badgered to 'go digital' when our area is not scheduled to 'go digital' until September 2011?
We cannot get freeview reception in our area, so will have to fork out for s sky box and dish if we wish to view digital programmes. And yet, the technical quality of the programmes we can get seems to be continually getting poorer with a plethora of ‘digital’ glitches evident on a daily basis. I would love someone at the BBC to explain this to me as I am sick of those stupid adverts saying it's easy to 'do digital' Spare us!
From the BBC 23 Jan 07
Dear Ms C
Thank you for your e-mail.
The BBC recognises some sections of our audience do not currently have the opportunity to get digital television through their aerial.
The digital promotional trails are to inform the public of what digital services are provided by the BBC and to help them prepare for the eventual switchover. We cannot currently expand digital terrestrial television further as this would cause interference to existing analogue services. Once the analogue television service has been switched off, we will have enough frequencies available to extend the digital television signals to those areas still to receive it.
We do appreciate you taking the time to make us aware of your views on the use of our digital trails and rest assured your comments have been fully registered on our audience log which is made available to senior BBC management.
Thank you again for contacting the BBC.
Regards
Tony Brown
BBC Information
To the BBC 28 Jan 07
Thank you for your prompt response to my query. I would like to respond in turn with a number of further queries and comments:
Firstly, Since I received your e-mail, I have been discussing the subject with friends in the area, and we all agree that, given the fact that we will not have a full digital terrestrial service until the analogue signal is switched off, it is grossly unfair that we pay the same license fee as people who receive a great deal more channels than we do. I can only receive 4 channels with a decent signal. When I first moved here eight and a half years ago, I could get a not-too-bad picture on channel 5 from the TV set upstairs which has its own booster aerial, but this has since waned rendering channel 5 unwatchable. Is there no possibility of at least improving the reception for terrestrial while we wait for ‘the big switch on’ (sic)?
Secondly, I recently discovered that we taxpayers subsides the commercial terrestrial channels - this came as big shock to me as I thought the revenue came from advertising, and I am appalled that this is case and I reckon not many people know about it.
Thirdly, I must say that I believe that the BBC does make some excellent programmes and some of the high quality programmes – particularly nature documentaries and costume dramas - obviously have a world-wide appeal. Given the ,money-making potential of these programmes, why are we paying a license fee at all?
I would appreciate your time in responding to these comments.
Regards
To the BBC 23 January 2007
Can you explain to me why we are continually badgered to 'go digital' when our area is not scheduled to 'go digital' until September 2011?
We cannot get freeview reception in our area, so will have to fork out for s sky box and dish if we wish to view digital programmes. And yet, the technical quality of the programmes we can get seems to be continually getting poorer with a plethora of ‘digital’ glitches evident on a daily basis. I would love someone at the BBC to explain this to me as I am sick of those stupid adverts saying it's easy to 'do digital' Spare us!
From the BBC 23 Jan 07
Dear Ms C
Thank you for your e-mail.
The BBC recognises some sections of our audience do not currently have the opportunity to get digital television through their aerial.
The digital promotional trails are to inform the public of what digital services are provided by the BBC and to help them prepare for the eventual switchover. We cannot currently expand digital terrestrial television further as this would cause interference to existing analogue services. Once the analogue television service has been switched off, we will have enough frequencies available to extend the digital television signals to those areas still to receive it.
We do appreciate you taking the time to make us aware of your views on the use of our digital trails and rest assured your comments have been fully registered on our audience log which is made available to senior BBC management.
Thank you again for contacting the BBC.
Regards
Tony Brown
BBC Information
To the BBC 28 Jan 07
Thank you for your prompt response to my query. I would like to respond in turn with a number of further queries and comments:
Firstly, Since I received your e-mail, I have been discussing the subject with friends in the area, and we all agree that, given the fact that we will not have a full digital terrestrial service until the analogue signal is switched off, it is grossly unfair that we pay the same license fee as people who receive a great deal more channels than we do. I can only receive 4 channels with a decent signal. When I first moved here eight and a half years ago, I could get a not-too-bad picture on channel 5 from the TV set upstairs which has its own booster aerial, but this has since waned rendering channel 5 unwatchable. Is there no possibility of at least improving the reception for terrestrial while we wait for ‘the big switch on’ (sic)?
Secondly, I recently discovered that we taxpayers subsides the commercial terrestrial channels - this came as big shock to me as I thought the revenue came from advertising, and I am appalled that this is case and I reckon not many people know about it.
Thirdly, I must say that I believe that the BBC does make some excellent programmes and some of the high quality programmes – particularly nature documentaries and costume dramas - obviously have a world-wide appeal. Given the ,money-making potential of these programmes, why are we paying a license fee at all?
I would appreciate your time in responding to these comments.
Regards
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Storm in a teacup
Phil now has about 22 tunes, some of them dancey breakbeats and some of them ambient-type electronic music. I think he has decided to compile a dance album first as he has a better chance of finding outlets for it. He has been working almost all his spare time on his music recently, and it’s obviously paying off in terms of number of tunes he’s created.
Mind you, we were a bit distracted from our usual activities towards the end of last week, as we were affected by the bad storms on Thursday. I left work early amid warnings of traffic chaos and got back (freakily easily!) to find we had lost a window in the bedroom. A pane of glass had totally blown out. It has took some effort to find someone to say they can fix it, but typically, they haven’t called yet to give us a day they can come. The most upsetting aspect of the episode has been the loss of the glass fish, but honestly it could’ve been much worse. We were really lucky the window blew out and not in, for a start, or the bed would have been covered by broken glass. And seeing the pictures on the news of gable ends falling onto cars and walls collapsing and killing children, it’s just an annoyance more than anything really.
Mind you, we were a bit distracted from our usual activities towards the end of last week, as we were affected by the bad storms on Thursday. I left work early amid warnings of traffic chaos and got back (freakily easily!) to find we had lost a window in the bedroom. A pane of glass had totally blown out. It has took some effort to find someone to say they can fix it, but typically, they haven’t called yet to give us a day they can come. The most upsetting aspect of the episode has been the loss of the glass fish, but honestly it could’ve been much worse. We were really lucky the window blew out and not in, for a start, or the bed would have been covered by broken glass. And seeing the pictures on the news of gable ends falling onto cars and walls collapsing and killing children, it’s just an annoyance more than anything really.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
New Year Revolution
I have had a weird few weeks.. the run up to Christmas was pretty good, then Christmas and New Year were okay – we had almost 2 weeks off and did loads of pottering and dossing about. Had a few trips out of the house – the usual bit of shopping, drinking, country walking (when we got absolutely drenched). Felt very relaxed when we went back to work on the 3rd January, and then, only 3 days later, I get struck by the lurgy and spent the best part of a week in bed. And then, just as I get over that, I am afflicted with stomach cramps so I have had a very uneventful weekend, and feel guilty about not doing very much. Mind you, it’s always a waste of time making new year resolutions because you never stick to them do you?
One thing I have decided though is I really need to get back into doing some creative stuff again. Phil has been making loads of music recently and reckons he has enough for about 2 albums. How and where he’s going to publish them, I don’t know yet. I suggested the internet but he doesn’t think it’s the kind of commercial stuff people will hook into. Well, okay, some of it could be perceived as a bit on the geeky side, but that’s what he does and he’s really good at it. So he should get it out there and let the people decide, that’s what I say.
I have offered to design some album covers but he needs to come up with titles first so I know what kind of collages to do. I used to do a lot of that type of thing and haven’t for ages so this will be a good incentive to get back into it. I also need to start writing my fiction again. I know everyone wants to be an author, but with me it has been an ambition since I was really young and it is hard to come with a good excuse as to why I haven’t got anywhere with it yet. Sure, I’ve written loads of short stories (some of which I have lost) and started a couple of books, but there is very little to demonstrate my talents as yet and I really must rectify that in the near future. I have to stop letting other stuff get in the way and just do it!
One thing I have decided though is I really need to get back into doing some creative stuff again. Phil has been making loads of music recently and reckons he has enough for about 2 albums. How and where he’s going to publish them, I don’t know yet. I suggested the internet but he doesn’t think it’s the kind of commercial stuff people will hook into. Well, okay, some of it could be perceived as a bit on the geeky side, but that’s what he does and he’s really good at it. So he should get it out there and let the people decide, that’s what I say.
I have offered to design some album covers but he needs to come up with titles first so I know what kind of collages to do. I used to do a lot of that type of thing and haven’t for ages so this will be a good incentive to get back into it. I also need to start writing my fiction again. I know everyone wants to be an author, but with me it has been an ambition since I was really young and it is hard to come with a good excuse as to why I haven’t got anywhere with it yet. Sure, I’ve written loads of short stories (some of which I have lost) and started a couple of books, but there is very little to demonstrate my talents as yet and I really must rectify that in the near future. I have to stop letting other stuff get in the way and just do it!
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