It's been awhile but life is particularly hectic so today I will leave you with my two current favourite Christmas songs:
Sugary sweet pop hooks, Beatlesque harmonies and a really feel good song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQCzfkWpySc
For the darker, more sombre folks, here is one it is unlikely you'll know:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcqRaMJgySc
I will update soon. Loads to catch up on as it's been an exciting time, daughters to be proud of, limited number of trips, several gigs, new car and really looking forward to Christmas despite it appearing to be the busiest I've ever had including going to "shudder" Church on Christmas day. If you don't hear from me I'll be ashes and my new theme song will be "Blowin' in the Wind".
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Back to the Future Day? Seriously...on this day 210 years ago we lost our greatest hero...
Really? Back to the Future Day? Seriously, that is the best that can be done on October 21st? I am an old stick in the mud that can't stand this "news" item. It's been played across the BBC and every other channel and the reality is that people are clutching at straws to find a correct prediction in a series of films that were just meant to be a bit of fun...
...that is part of my bone of contention...
...on this day 210 years ago we lost our greatest hero and the last real threat of an invasion to these fair shores, at the Battle of Trafalgar, 21st Oct 1805. Britain's navy took on the combined strength of the French and Spanish navies and stopped the real threat of an invasion. All wars after that have been fought on the Continent, never on the English mainland. It cost the life of Nelson but what a victory, decimated a navy that was a good deal larger and in death it consolidated the legend of the great man, Britain's truest son.
Back to the future day can kiss my a**e.
...that is part of my bone of contention...
...on this day 210 years ago we lost our greatest hero and the last real threat of an invasion to these fair shores, at the Battle of Trafalgar, 21st Oct 1805. Britain's navy took on the combined strength of the French and Spanish navies and stopped the real threat of an invasion. All wars after that have been fought on the Continent, never on the English mainland. It cost the life of Nelson but what a victory, decimated a navy that was a good deal larger and in death it consolidated the legend of the great man, Britain's truest son.
Back to the future day can kiss my a**e.
Monday, 5 October 2015
...England Rugby team playing for their place in the World Cup or dead Badgers...
My weekend took a turn. My expectation was that I would be watching the rugby but a missed email that I saw on Friday night changed my plans, there was a call for people to visit the Badger cull zones as the story is now lost to the back pages of the newspapers and they are all but forgotten. Walker numbers are down and with 2 weeks to go, they are desperate for people.
I weighed it up, England Rugby team playing for their place in the World Cup or dead Badgers because I wasn't there to stop someone shooting them. It took all of 2 seconds to make the decision and I put the rugby on record.
The numbers were down and Alexa, the lynchpin that organises the Wounded Badger Patrol in Gloucestershire, was about to patrol by herself with the other teams, scarce on the ground, already paired off, no men in attendance apart from me. It is incredibly brave that a young woman is prepared to patrol the fields at night by herself, knowing that she is there to confront armed men and to potentially be bullied and assaulted by the local farmers and farmhands that approve of the cull.
There wasn't a great deal of activity apart from a couple of shots and headlights in the middle of a field but I did meet some helpers of the cause that back up the WBP or possibly vice versa and they can be on location within 4 minutes. I have no idea why the Hunt Sabs have such a bad reputation, they are peaceful vegans that protest in a way that gets results. They don't hurt people and if it wasn't for their 50 year fight it is very likely we would still have fox hunting, badger baiting and other barbaric and inhumane blood "sports". They might be angry and passionate about their cause but they don't spill blood but plenty of them have been hurt in the course of their protests, yet still they have a bad name...They are in the cull zones every night and I doff my cap to them and their vigilance, many more creatures would be killed if it wasn't for their efforts.
I was out till 1am and got home at 3am. It was tiring and saddening to think this is the third year of a pointless execution of wildlife and heartbreaking to think of those 2 shots and hoping they missed the badgers.
Alexa said that next weekend is the last of the cull period, unless they get an extension. It is likely the Government will brag about what a success it has been, particularly as the numbers of badgers to be executed is so small this year. Having failed to reach the target for the past 2 years, the Government has dropped the figures to something they think the shooters can manage. A case of f**k science, let's just concoct a figure we can meet. Mind you this cull isn't based on science, it is based on money and/or cronyism, we just don't know who's pocketing it or benefiting.
Anyway, with the walker figures being down and next week being the last of the known cull days for this year, they need people in the fields, they need people to give up one night to protect the wildlife from David Cameron and his bloodthirsty cohorts. If you can, please take to the fields, there are 3 zones that need your help, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Here is the link to the meeting places:
http://teambadger.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=228:wounded-badger-patrols&catid=47&Itemid=101
If anyone needs a lift, PM me, I have 3-4 spaces and will be driving from Bucks, through Oxon down the A40, leaving at 5-ish, back around 3am, Saturday 10th Oct back early hours of Sunday morning. Waterproofs and warm clothing is recommended, something reflective and a powerful torch.
I weighed it up, England Rugby team playing for their place in the World Cup or dead Badgers because I wasn't there to stop someone shooting them. It took all of 2 seconds to make the decision and I put the rugby on record.
The numbers were down and Alexa, the lynchpin that organises the Wounded Badger Patrol in Gloucestershire, was about to patrol by herself with the other teams, scarce on the ground, already paired off, no men in attendance apart from me. It is incredibly brave that a young woman is prepared to patrol the fields at night by herself, knowing that she is there to confront armed men and to potentially be bullied and assaulted by the local farmers and farmhands that approve of the cull.
There wasn't a great deal of activity apart from a couple of shots and headlights in the middle of a field but I did meet some helpers of the cause that back up the WBP or possibly vice versa and they can be on location within 4 minutes. I have no idea why the Hunt Sabs have such a bad reputation, they are peaceful vegans that protest in a way that gets results. They don't hurt people and if it wasn't for their 50 year fight it is very likely we would still have fox hunting, badger baiting and other barbaric and inhumane blood "sports". They might be angry and passionate about their cause but they don't spill blood but plenty of them have been hurt in the course of their protests, yet still they have a bad name...They are in the cull zones every night and I doff my cap to them and their vigilance, many more creatures would be killed if it wasn't for their efforts.
I was out till 1am and got home at 3am. It was tiring and saddening to think this is the third year of a pointless execution of wildlife and heartbreaking to think of those 2 shots and hoping they missed the badgers.
Alexa said that next weekend is the last of the cull period, unless they get an extension. It is likely the Government will brag about what a success it has been, particularly as the numbers of badgers to be executed is so small this year. Having failed to reach the target for the past 2 years, the Government has dropped the figures to something they think the shooters can manage. A case of f**k science, let's just concoct a figure we can meet. Mind you this cull isn't based on science, it is based on money and/or cronyism, we just don't know who's pocketing it or benefiting.
Anyway, with the walker figures being down and next week being the last of the known cull days for this year, they need people in the fields, they need people to give up one night to protect the wildlife from David Cameron and his bloodthirsty cohorts. If you can, please take to the fields, there are 3 zones that need your help, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Here is the link to the meeting places:
http://teambadger.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=228:wounded-badger-patrols&catid=47&Itemid=101
If anyone needs a lift, PM me, I have 3-4 spaces and will be driving from Bucks, through Oxon down the A40, leaving at 5-ish, back around 3am, Saturday 10th Oct back early hours of Sunday morning. Waterproofs and warm clothing is recommended, something reflective and a powerful torch.
Monday, 28 September 2015
The Wildhearts, Rugby, Philharmonia and my daughter, a blood moon, the end of the World and a new day.
Such a truly amazing weekend. Highs and lows a-plenty and possibly the last weekend on this Earth if the naysayers are to be believed, a blood moon and eclipse to spell the end of days.
Friday night, the Wildhearts, as you might have read previously, took old men back to less decrepit times and for 2 hours we sang and behaved disgracefully before limping home and waking up with aches and pains that reek of "told you so". If the World were to end at that moment, come and get me, I can die happy.
I thought I'd avoided the post gig depression but I was wrong and more depressingly, I have no idea why this band do this to me but onwards to the Rugby, what could possibly go wrong? Wales have been decimated by injuries with so many key players out and England with a full strength squad, OK, they might not have been firing on all cylinders but this was a match that would boot them into life. How wrong could I be? Watching all my hopes and dreams draining through 30 minutes, seeping into the Twickenham turf. Watching Wales devastated by even more injuries, so much so that we weren't even playing their first, second or third team, how could this be? Watching a 10 point lead fall away with such lackluster and careless playing from a team that has the ability and talent but seem to lose their way so easily. That was the big crash, that 28-25 defeat by Wales, the deserved winners. If the World were to end at this moment,,,oh wait, it felt like it did.
Sunday was another day away from Rugby, my eldest daughter was performing with a choir at the Royal Festival Hall in London, alongside the Philharmonia Orchestra in Beethoven's 9th (Ode to Joy). It was breathtaking, a full Orchestra, 4 singers and a choir about 110 strong.
I couldn't have been prouder. She is now far beyond the childhood concerts that I used to watch, she is mixing with professionals and graduates and the Orchestras are getting more and more professional and the people that she mixes with and is conducted by are becoming "names" and she absolutely adores it, she has found her vocation and I am so happy and pleased for her. The World could have ended at that moment and I'd have been devastated that she couldn't continue along her dream path but on a personal level, it is a die happy scenario, to see your children happy and really starting to live their dreams.
We got home just after midnight and the eclipse and moon were due to happen at 3-ish in the morning so I set my alarm. It did go off and I did turn it off before falling promptly asleep again, waking in a panic at 3.45. I threw on some clothes and leapt in the car and drove in a random direction, just to escape the light pollution. I ended up on a main road, in a bus stop near Waddesdon and set up my tripod, camera and zoom lens and started taking shots at different exposures and ISO settings and whilst it was very much a shoot and hope exercise, I did get these shots.
So this is what the end of the World looks like? A blood moon? It was beautiful and eerie and I am grateful that I was able to witness the end of days.
I drove home, fed the cats, made my wife a cup of tea and contemplated what to do next in the remaining time that I had left. I wasn't sure if this would be a quick exit from life or a more drawn out thing, so I decided to go for a run.
As I hit the outside air it was fresh but not chilling and the distant horizon was lightening, probably the onset of whatever doom was heading our way.
I was tired, a busy weekend and a lack of sleep will do that. I have a new florescent jacket and managed to catch the zip in itself, it would't go up or down so I had to run with it billowing around me, Michelin Man on the rampage.
As I started running down the less used roads, I could see the pink horizon starting to unfurl, a small line across the blue that was lighter, darkening to midnight hues at its zenith and a full moon behind me, still relatively high in the sky. It didn't feel like the dark forces of hell were coming to collect me, it felt like this was an incredible time to be awake and alive. It felt like this was going to be a new day and every breath was fresh life and every step was a move forwards into this day.
And to think, people wonder why I run!! Where else could I witness the birth of a new day, particularly one that is so wondrous and memorable. I love the moment between night and day and at this time of year with the colours becoming so vivid, the trees changing and the icy breath of November starting to form, the mist and clarity of the sky, the air and chill that is still far from being the fell hand of Winter, brushes against me. I live for moments like this, alone in the middle of nowhere, as far home to return as to continue on but I know why I'm here.
I am here to witness this day, to see that this is a new day, this isn't the end of things, this is a renewing of things. A day where I can witness the blush of the sun in dawn sky and behind me is a full moon in an inky dark sky.
And I couldn't be any happier to be alive.
Friday night, the Wildhearts, as you might have read previously, took old men back to less decrepit times and for 2 hours we sang and behaved disgracefully before limping home and waking up with aches and pains that reek of "told you so". If the World were to end at that moment, come and get me, I can die happy.
I thought I'd avoided the post gig depression but I was wrong and more depressingly, I have no idea why this band do this to me but onwards to the Rugby, what could possibly go wrong? Wales have been decimated by injuries with so many key players out and England with a full strength squad, OK, they might not have been firing on all cylinders but this was a match that would boot them into life. How wrong could I be? Watching all my hopes and dreams draining through 30 minutes, seeping into the Twickenham turf. Watching Wales devastated by even more injuries, so much so that we weren't even playing their first, second or third team, how could this be? Watching a 10 point lead fall away with such lackluster and careless playing from a team that has the ability and talent but seem to lose their way so easily. That was the big crash, that 28-25 defeat by Wales, the deserved winners. If the World were to end at this moment,,,oh wait, it felt like it did.
Sunday was another day away from Rugby, my eldest daughter was performing with a choir at the Royal Festival Hall in London, alongside the Philharmonia Orchestra in Beethoven's 9th (Ode to Joy). It was breathtaking, a full Orchestra, 4 singers and a choir about 110 strong.
I couldn't have been prouder. She is now far beyond the childhood concerts that I used to watch, she is mixing with professionals and graduates and the Orchestras are getting more and more professional and the people that she mixes with and is conducted by are becoming "names" and she absolutely adores it, she has found her vocation and I am so happy and pleased for her. The World could have ended at that moment and I'd have been devastated that she couldn't continue along her dream path but on a personal level, it is a die happy scenario, to see your children happy and really starting to live their dreams.
We got home just after midnight and the eclipse and moon were due to happen at 3-ish in the morning so I set my alarm. It did go off and I did turn it off before falling promptly asleep again, waking in a panic at 3.45. I threw on some clothes and leapt in the car and drove in a random direction, just to escape the light pollution. I ended up on a main road, in a bus stop near Waddesdon and set up my tripod, camera and zoom lens and started taking shots at different exposures and ISO settings and whilst it was very much a shoot and hope exercise, I did get these shots.
So this is what the end of the World looks like? A blood moon? It was beautiful and eerie and I am grateful that I was able to witness the end of days.
I drove home, fed the cats, made my wife a cup of tea and contemplated what to do next in the remaining time that I had left. I wasn't sure if this would be a quick exit from life or a more drawn out thing, so I decided to go for a run.
As I hit the outside air it was fresh but not chilling and the distant horizon was lightening, probably the onset of whatever doom was heading our way.
I was tired, a busy weekend and a lack of sleep will do that. I have a new florescent jacket and managed to catch the zip in itself, it would't go up or down so I had to run with it billowing around me, Michelin Man on the rampage.
As I started running down the less used roads, I could see the pink horizon starting to unfurl, a small line across the blue that was lighter, darkening to midnight hues at its zenith and a full moon behind me, still relatively high in the sky. It didn't feel like the dark forces of hell were coming to collect me, it felt like this was an incredible time to be awake and alive. It felt like this was going to be a new day and every breath was fresh life and every step was a move forwards into this day.
And to think, people wonder why I run!! Where else could I witness the birth of a new day, particularly one that is so wondrous and memorable. I love the moment between night and day and at this time of year with the colours becoming so vivid, the trees changing and the icy breath of November starting to form, the mist and clarity of the sky, the air and chill that is still far from being the fell hand of Winter, brushes against me. I live for moments like this, alone in the middle of nowhere, as far home to return as to continue on but I know why I'm here.
I am here to witness this day, to see that this is a new day, this isn't the end of things, this is a renewing of things. A day where I can witness the blush of the sun in dawn sky and behind me is a full moon in an inky dark sky.
And I couldn't be any happier to be alive.
Saturday, 26 September 2015
The Wildhearts...""Phuq-ing" awesome!
Shepherds Bush Empire is an amazing venue. An old Theatre, it has all the carvings intact and painted as if for a vaudeville show. You half expect Flanagan and Allen to emerge on stage and the place is full of grey and balding heads, pot bellies and faded tour T-shirts that are now 20 years old. It looks like the last stand of the '80's children until the music starts and the years roll back but let's start at the beginning.
This is the Wildhearts celebrating 20 years since the release of the album "Phuq". Support is from Hey Hello and Baby Chaos and both were stunning, Baby Chaos blew my socks off and I will be investing in some of their CD's.
The Wildhearts took to the stage with "I wanna go where the people go" and what a start to a show. It was great to hear the album played back to back but as with all Wildheart shows, it is the not knowing what is coming next that is part of the experience and despite the fact that "Phuq" is a fine album, I prefer to see them when they just play whatever they and we want. The criticism is based purely upon the fact that they have such an amazing repertoire (you can't please everyone!), however, they are still one of the finest live bands I have ever seen. I smiled, teared up, laughed, sang my heart out and had an amazing time. The encores were a run through of
Here is "In Lilly's Garden" and "Getting It", not from London unfortunately:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fOnhHire4g
The crowd were old, a year older than last year but too old to be moshing but they did anyway and in the most good natured way, security guards were picking people off the floor and people helped the security guard up when he fell over. The alcohol was flowing freely and the "old enough to know betters" will be paying the price today, creaking and vowing never again but hopefully we can do this again next year.
Go and see Ginger and the Wildhearts, this is a man and a band that have one of the finest back catalogs of any artist, they can rock, they have a punk attitude and they have the most incredible hooks, saccharine sweet and wrapped in an iron bar, leaving you bruised with a smile on your face.
I will add some pictures at somepoint but I just wanted to get the blog out before England Vs Wales, last night was a great night and I am relieved to have the rugby tonight because last time I saw the Wildhearts I crashed badly afterwards, the colour faded for a little while as pathetic as it sounds, but this time around I have the Rugby (apologies to Georgia and Argentina for missing their match) to keep my on the high.
This is the Wildhearts celebrating 20 years since the release of the album "Phuq". Support is from Hey Hello and Baby Chaos and both were stunning, Baby Chaos blew my socks off and I will be investing in some of their CD's.
The Wildhearts took to the stage with "I wanna go where the people go" and what a start to a show. It was great to hear the album played back to back but as with all Wildheart shows, it is the not knowing what is coming next that is part of the experience and despite the fact that "Phuq" is a fine album, I prefer to see them when they just play whatever they and we want. The criticism is based purely upon the fact that they have such an amazing repertoire (you can't please everyone!), however, they are still one of the finest live bands I have ever seen. I smiled, teared up, laughed, sang my heart out and had an amazing time. The encores were a run through of
Here is "In Lilly's Garden" and "Getting It", not from London unfortunately:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fOnhHire4g
The crowd were old, a year older than last year but too old to be moshing but they did anyway and in the most good natured way, security guards were picking people off the floor and people helped the security guard up when he fell over. The alcohol was flowing freely and the "old enough to know betters" will be paying the price today, creaking and vowing never again but hopefully we can do this again next year.
Go and see Ginger and the Wildhearts, this is a man and a band that have one of the finest back catalogs of any artist, they can rock, they have a punk attitude and they have the most incredible hooks, saccharine sweet and wrapped in an iron bar, leaving you bruised with a smile on your face.
I will add some pictures at somepoint but I just wanted to get the blog out before England Vs Wales, last night was a great night and I am relieved to have the rugby tonight because last time I saw the Wildhearts I crashed badly afterwards, the colour faded for a little while as pathetic as it sounds, but this time around I have the Rugby (apologies to Georgia and Argentina for missing their match) to keep my on the high.
Sunday, 20 September 2015
...the Rugby World Cup 2015.....my life is nearly complete.
And so it started, the Rugby World Cup 2015 kicked off on Friday night at Twickenham with a big victory for England. It wasn't entirely convincing as Fiji appeared to have ignored the script and played a great game and the score didn't reflect the toughness of the match. Mike Brown, England fallback had an amazing game, 2 tries and a huge influence on the game. I saw the match earlier in the year when he was carried off with concussion and was out for 3 months, England really missed him and it is good to see him back and hitting form. This match had more concerns, it showed flaws in the England game, hopefully this means that we will have the chance to put this right because I have no doubt that we have all the elements that make up a World beating team, it just needs to come together. The talent on the bench is a testament to the talent on the pitch. The only negative is that I would love to have seen Matt Banahan playing, Bath's 6ft 7" winger is a talent, he tackles hard, has a great turn of pace and is a huge presence on the pitch, shrugs off tackles and he is coming off the back of an exceptional season:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu2-fhNjALE
There appears to be a lot of controversy about the TV ref and the amount of time it is taking to reach a decision on a try or a foul. I think it is a good thing, it means that Rugby is leading the way in Europe in cleaning up the sport of cheating. Unlike Football, Rugby has never allowed the players to contest a referees decision, his decision is final and now there can not even be any controversial matches, a try is either correct or not, any infringements in the lead up to the try are spotted, all of this can only be a good thing for sport as a whole. The concern seems to be on the amount of time this takes, a Rugby match is 40 minutes a side but the England match ended up at 50 minutes a side, an extra 20 minutes and the concerns appear to be that it is a hindrance to flow of the game and that viewers will get bored and turn off. It might affect the flow of the game but it is a process that will get faster as time goes on. as a viewer, I prefer to see a fair match with cheats penalised and the a try being correctly awarded. I have seen 2 tries disallowed, both looked good and both refs gave the try until the replay showed that the ball was dropped over the line, the player wasn't in control of the ball, and the decision was rescinded, a correct decision. What will happen, as this tournament progresses, is that the balance will come together and processes will speed up, I just hope that it is given a chance and that the press doesn't tear it apart before it is given the chance to be the future of sport.
Anyway, Saturday, a day that was looking like a walk over for 2 of the matches and the Tonga Vs Georgia and France Vs Italy looking like the only matches worth watching. Tonga and Georgia was a bruising match that never really allowed the teams to find their stride. The tackling was immense, huge clashes, and huge packs that charged, making small gains in a war of attrition, there was no room for fear, this was raw and courageous, tactics and gameplan out the window and they simply slogged it out, it wasn't pretty but it was exciting with Georgia coming out as the victors.
Next up was Canada Vs Ireland. Ireland hadn't looked great in the final warm up match, losing convincingly to England but this was a rejuvenated side, Johnny Sexton was exceptional and Canada, a team that still has a number of part time amateur players, never stood a chance. I did cheer when they got a consolation try but Ireland were impressive and this firmly places them on the radar.
Next up was potentially the match of the tournament, and yes, this goes for all matches to come, Japan, seeded at 14, winning a single World Cup match against Zimbabwe 24 years ago, against South Africa, a troubled side but 2 time World Cup winners and ranked at number 3 in the World. Japan were a revelation, by the end of the first half, despite a slender lead, you could see the defeat in the South African players eyes. The Japanese pack is light in comparison to the Springboks and the Springboks are expected to push that advantage in every scrum, lineout and ruck but it didn't happen. I've never seen a scrum over so quickly, when the Japanese had the put in, the ball was literally rolling out as it was going in, the forwards simply didn't have any tie to assert themselves. Japan was so fast, the ball speed, movement off the ball and fitness of the team frustrated the Springboks and made them look jaded. When the first Japanese try came off the back of a rolling maul that contained 13 players, you just knew they had trained specifically for this match, they knew how to win and after the first try, they had the belief. It was a truly emotional and moving game, watching the no hopers never giving up, always being slightly behind but knowing they had the skills to win. It came down to the final play, South Africa at 32, Japan at 29, Japan could kick a penalty and finish with a draw or go all or nothing and go for the win. They opted for the win and what a nail biter it was before they finally dove the ball over the line in the corner for the biggest upset in Rugby history. All team have a name, the All Blacks for New Zealand, Springboks for South Africa, apparently England is the Red and Whites (after the kit) and Japan is the Brave Blossoms and they put in one of finest performances I have ever seen, they tackled hard, showed not an ounce of fear, played the game cleanly and put in one of the finest performances of running Rugby that I have ever seen, South Africa was outclassed and I think this will send a shockwave through the tier one teams, South Africa didn't take them seriously but this is a team that has the potential to become tier one, maybe not in this World Cup but over the next few years. The shame is that their coach is leaving and he is a genius.
This is what Rugby is about, this is a match that I wish I could have been at and I now have my second favourite team for this tournament. The really unfair thing is that the tier one teams have plenty of rest time, 5-6 days, Japan play Scotland on Wednesday, Scotland's first match so they are fresh, Japan have only 4 rest days, it seems mighty unfair.
The final match of the day was France Vs Italy. This was a tough one, both teams losing key players to injury and Italy are without their talisman Captain, Sergio Parisse, an amazing player that lifts the Italian team, even when they lose, he leaves his heart and soul on the pitch, without him Italy struggle for direction, movement and ideas and they never imposed themselves against France. It was a good match but given the previous match, this was the wind down.
So, this reaches its climax on October 31st, 6 weeks of Rugby, my life is nearly complete and given the matches yesterday, and yes I watched them all, I have an exciting month and a half to come. An England victory over Japan in the final would be the perfect result for me!
Any Americans that ever read this blog, look up Rugby, you need to get behind your national side, it is a far more exciting sport than American Football, take off all the padding and protective clothing, have just the one team to play defense and offence and you have Rugby. Your people play every team sport with belief and courage and it is a shame that your teams are playing this alone. Every other nation has large pockets of support that turn out for them but the US National teams in Rugby and Football (Soccer to you), seem to be in a lonely place, I'll support them today on your behalf, even though my nature urges me to support the tiny Island nation of Samoa, it's just a shame that you're probably not even aware of this tournament.
**Update** Samoa 25 USA 16
It was a good match but Samoa are a Rugby nation and they are in form. The USA played well but Samoa were just too much for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu2-fhNjALE
There appears to be a lot of controversy about the TV ref and the amount of time it is taking to reach a decision on a try or a foul. I think it is a good thing, it means that Rugby is leading the way in Europe in cleaning up the sport of cheating. Unlike Football, Rugby has never allowed the players to contest a referees decision, his decision is final and now there can not even be any controversial matches, a try is either correct or not, any infringements in the lead up to the try are spotted, all of this can only be a good thing for sport as a whole. The concern seems to be on the amount of time this takes, a Rugby match is 40 minutes a side but the England match ended up at 50 minutes a side, an extra 20 minutes and the concerns appear to be that it is a hindrance to flow of the game and that viewers will get bored and turn off. It might affect the flow of the game but it is a process that will get faster as time goes on. as a viewer, I prefer to see a fair match with cheats penalised and the a try being correctly awarded. I have seen 2 tries disallowed, both looked good and both refs gave the try until the replay showed that the ball was dropped over the line, the player wasn't in control of the ball, and the decision was rescinded, a correct decision. What will happen, as this tournament progresses, is that the balance will come together and processes will speed up, I just hope that it is given a chance and that the press doesn't tear it apart before it is given the chance to be the future of sport.
Anyway, Saturday, a day that was looking like a walk over for 2 of the matches and the Tonga Vs Georgia and France Vs Italy looking like the only matches worth watching. Tonga and Georgia was a bruising match that never really allowed the teams to find their stride. The tackling was immense, huge clashes, and huge packs that charged, making small gains in a war of attrition, there was no room for fear, this was raw and courageous, tactics and gameplan out the window and they simply slogged it out, it wasn't pretty but it was exciting with Georgia coming out as the victors.
Next up was Canada Vs Ireland. Ireland hadn't looked great in the final warm up match, losing convincingly to England but this was a rejuvenated side, Johnny Sexton was exceptional and Canada, a team that still has a number of part time amateur players, never stood a chance. I did cheer when they got a consolation try but Ireland were impressive and this firmly places them on the radar.
Next up was potentially the match of the tournament, and yes, this goes for all matches to come, Japan, seeded at 14, winning a single World Cup match against Zimbabwe 24 years ago, against South Africa, a troubled side but 2 time World Cup winners and ranked at number 3 in the World. Japan were a revelation, by the end of the first half, despite a slender lead, you could see the defeat in the South African players eyes. The Japanese pack is light in comparison to the Springboks and the Springboks are expected to push that advantage in every scrum, lineout and ruck but it didn't happen. I've never seen a scrum over so quickly, when the Japanese had the put in, the ball was literally rolling out as it was going in, the forwards simply didn't have any tie to assert themselves. Japan was so fast, the ball speed, movement off the ball and fitness of the team frustrated the Springboks and made them look jaded. When the first Japanese try came off the back of a rolling maul that contained 13 players, you just knew they had trained specifically for this match, they knew how to win and after the first try, they had the belief. It was a truly emotional and moving game, watching the no hopers never giving up, always being slightly behind but knowing they had the skills to win. It came down to the final play, South Africa at 32, Japan at 29, Japan could kick a penalty and finish with a draw or go all or nothing and go for the win. They opted for the win and what a nail biter it was before they finally dove the ball over the line in the corner for the biggest upset in Rugby history. All team have a name, the All Blacks for New Zealand, Springboks for South Africa, apparently England is the Red and Whites (after the kit) and Japan is the Brave Blossoms and they put in one of finest performances I have ever seen, they tackled hard, showed not an ounce of fear, played the game cleanly and put in one of the finest performances of running Rugby that I have ever seen, South Africa was outclassed and I think this will send a shockwave through the tier one teams, South Africa didn't take them seriously but this is a team that has the potential to become tier one, maybe not in this World Cup but over the next few years. The shame is that their coach is leaving and he is a genius.
This is what Rugby is about, this is a match that I wish I could have been at and I now have my second favourite team for this tournament. The really unfair thing is that the tier one teams have plenty of rest time, 5-6 days, Japan play Scotland on Wednesday, Scotland's first match so they are fresh, Japan have only 4 rest days, it seems mighty unfair.
The final match of the day was France Vs Italy. This was a tough one, both teams losing key players to injury and Italy are without their talisman Captain, Sergio Parisse, an amazing player that lifts the Italian team, even when they lose, he leaves his heart and soul on the pitch, without him Italy struggle for direction, movement and ideas and they never imposed themselves against France. It was a good match but given the previous match, this was the wind down.
So, this reaches its climax on October 31st, 6 weeks of Rugby, my life is nearly complete and given the matches yesterday, and yes I watched them all, I have an exciting month and a half to come. An England victory over Japan in the final would be the perfect result for me!
Any Americans that ever read this blog, look up Rugby, you need to get behind your national side, it is a far more exciting sport than American Football, take off all the padding and protective clothing, have just the one team to play defense and offence and you have Rugby. Your people play every team sport with belief and courage and it is a shame that your teams are playing this alone. Every other nation has large pockets of support that turn out for them but the US National teams in Rugby and Football (Soccer to you), seem to be in a lonely place, I'll support them today on your behalf, even though my nature urges me to support the tiny Island nation of Samoa, it's just a shame that you're probably not even aware of this tournament.
**Update** Samoa 25 USA 16
It was a good match but Samoa are a Rugby nation and they are in form. The USA played well but Samoa were just too much for them.
Friday, 4 September 2015
...I love this time of year.
My running has been sporadic. I didn't run last week and the week before, I ran in the evenings as my eldest daughter has a new bike and wanted some road experience, so I ran behind her so I would be the first to be hit and killed by a maniac motorist...well it made sense at the time.
Anyway, we plumped for 5 miles and she got faster day on day and so did I although I was a complete mess at the end of the runs It was really nice to get out with her, she was chatty and funny and I was sweaty and panting.
I ran yesterday morning, the first morning run in a little while and I noticed the change in the cold, slightly more biting than the last morning run, normally signifying a change in the season and it does seem to happen that suddenly, one day it is Summer, the next there is a bite in the air and we are in Autumn.
It made me realise how much I love this time of year. It was an amazing run, not fast but simply beautiful and I know that it will become much more so over the next few months. The frost will bite and the darkness will envelope me and the sun will warm my skin while the cold chills my bones, there will be the crunch of frosted leaves underfoot and the wildlife will be foraging for Winter supplies. The greenness that has sprung up will die back and the paths will be easier to run down. The leaves will colour and fall and I will lament the fact that my camera is at home but will keep the image in my heart and rejoice in being alive to witness all of this, humbled by the sheer creativity, scope and power of nature. Who needs a greater god than that?
Anyway, we plumped for 5 miles and she got faster day on day and so did I although I was a complete mess at the end of the runs It was really nice to get out with her, she was chatty and funny and I was sweaty and panting.
I ran yesterday morning, the first morning run in a little while and I noticed the change in the cold, slightly more biting than the last morning run, normally signifying a change in the season and it does seem to happen that suddenly, one day it is Summer, the next there is a bite in the air and we are in Autumn.
It made me realise how much I love this time of year. It was an amazing run, not fast but simply beautiful and I know that it will become much more so over the next few months. The frost will bite and the darkness will envelope me and the sun will warm my skin while the cold chills my bones, there will be the crunch of frosted leaves underfoot and the wildlife will be foraging for Winter supplies. The greenness that has sprung up will die back and the paths will be easier to run down. The leaves will colour and fall and I will lament the fact that my camera is at home but will keep the image in my heart and rejoice in being alive to witness all of this, humbled by the sheer creativity, scope and power of nature. Who needs a greater god than that?
Friday, 28 August 2015
...looking like something forged in Mordor, all sharp lines and spikes with fire flaming out of it's arse, Sauron Junior.
This week has been exciting, I took the week off and spent 3 days on "daycation" trips. The first was on Monday, I took both daughters and one of their friends to North Yorkshire. It was meant to be a varied trip, stopping briefly at various interests but we got stuck on the first one and only managed a second stop before we headed home.
The first stop was Brimham Rocks and that was amazing. An alien landscape of granite weathered into odd and fascinating shapes, towering and incredible and open to be climbed and investigated. My youngest daughter went from bored to full on regression to 9 years old and she climbed and laughed and had lots of fun, more than a 17 year old is entitled to have.
The main attraction of this trip, the piece de resistance,
was Whitby Abbey, and whilst it was more incredible
than the last time I saw it, appearing more like the set of a film, apparently there were hundreds of seals in the
bay and we missed them, finding out about them after
we'd left the area. Having said that, what a place, it is so
atmospheric, definitely worth visiting. The arches are stunning and you can imagine the bats flitting round the ruins at dusk.
On the way home we stopped briefly at York and formulated a plan for next year, maybe stay in York and properly explore Yorkshire over a few days.
On the way home, not far from home, there was a loud bang as a bird flew into the side of the car. It was around 10pm and I of course stopped and saw a shape flapping around on the road. Close investigation revealed an owl. I foraged in the boot of the car and found some loose clothes and managed to wrap a struggling and clawing owl into a package and handed it to my eldest daughter and made the 30 minute detour to St Tiggywinkles. Thankfully they think the tawny owl has a broken wing and will be all right. They did comment that not many people will stop for an injured animal, all I would ask is that you do, a simple web search will show you the nearest sanctuary that will take them, it is the humane and right thing to do, when we stop caring we are lost.
Anyway, Tuesday was a day off, my rest day.
Wednesday was down to Glastonbury to see my Aunt Pat. I haven't seen her in a few years and she adores the girls. Unfortunately Anastasia has a stinking cold so we left her in bed. We met Pat in Cafe Spiral for lunch. They advertised gluten free sweet and savoury pancakes. The chap there said that he wasn't the pancake expert but would do his best and said we can pay at the end, if we like them, if not he'd just charge us for the drinks!
We had a nice catchup with Pat in this tiny Cafe, they didn't hassle us to leave and the pancakes were amazing. Anouska had a garlic mushrooms with a creamy sauce and spinach, I had cheese, red onions and mushrooms and Pat had smoked salmon, it was all really nice, definitely worth visiting and I paid him in full and tipped. Lovely service and the food was excellent.
We then had a wander around Glastonbury, looking in at all the Witchy shops, the crystals and the wands and the ceremonial garb.
We then left for Avebury.
There is not much to be said about Avebury, older than Stonehenge, it is a series of stone circles threaded throughout a village and a pub. Nearby is Silbury Hill and the West Kennet Long Barrow, if you've not been there then you must go, Avebury is wonderful.
We are now up to yesterday and it was time for the Clacton Airshow and the final flying year of the Vulcan. I feel very sad about that, it is criminal that the Government or the RAF haven't taken this mighty warbird on. It is sad that we no longer have any of the battleships left from either World War, no Mosquitos, only a single Lancaster and we have one airworthy Vulcan that is being grounded...I won't get into a rant about this because this makes me sad.
Anyway, the wind stopped the Lancaster from flying but it was all OK, the Spitfire and the Hurricane filled in for the old lady.
I then made the cardinal photographers error, my battery ran out and the spare was in the car, a 30 minute round trip away. I missed a few planes including the B17 and missed the first half of the Red Arrows but did catch the second half. They were unbelievable as usual, truly the best of British, the World's best pilots in a single squadron, long may they reign!
Then the fond farewell. The sound of the Vulcan was like the sky was being shredded then sudden peace as it turned away and then turned back so slowly, how can something so large stay aloft at such low speeds, graceful turns and those sleek lines, such a beautiful craft.
So sorry to see you go but I will try and see you over the next few weeks.
And then the new kid on the block, similar yet so different to the Vulcan, the Typhoon. Unlike the grace and curves of the Vulcan, this is the bad boy, looking like something forged in Mordor, all sharp lines and spikes with fire flaming out of it's arse, Sauron Junior.
I did manage to get one of those shots that makes it seem like it was taken in the air. I've not managed that before.
This is a plane built for war. It looks the part, it is incredibly loud, carrying on the tradition started by the Vulcan, this is another plane that cleaves the air with sound but unlike the Vulcan this is an angry plane, it exults in speed and aerobatics.
Clacton Airshow was amazing and I would recommend it to everyone, it is a great day out.
It has been a busy week but lots of fun. I am shattered but it feels like it's been a little while since my last trip.
My next visits will be Somerset and Gloucestershire and I have heard today, possibly Dorset for the Wounded Badger Patrol, another reason so be sad and another reason to be mad at the bastard Government, bunch of tossers sitting in ivory towers making judgement calls that benefit friends and family and cost the rest of us and the Countryside, dear...
The first stop was Brimham Rocks and that was amazing. An alien landscape of granite weathered into odd and fascinating shapes, towering and incredible and open to be climbed and investigated. My youngest daughter went from bored to full on regression to 9 years old and she climbed and laughed and had lots of fun, more than a 17 year old is entitled to have.
We didn't spend nearly as long as we could have. It appears to be a place known mostly to locals as every voice Yorkshire born and bred. There were a lot of people there but this is a huge park and simply swallowed up the numbers. It is a testament to the beauty of Yorkshire that something that appeared as a footnote in a book, took up half a day and the promise of a return trip.
The main attraction of this trip, the piece de resistance,was Whitby Abbey, and whilst it was more incredible
than the last time I saw it, appearing more like the set of a film, apparently there were hundreds of seals in the
bay and we missed them, finding out about them after
we'd left the area. Having said that, what a place, it is so
atmospheric, definitely worth visiting. The arches are stunning and you can imagine the bats flitting round the ruins at dusk.
On the way home we stopped briefly at York and formulated a plan for next year, maybe stay in York and properly explore Yorkshire over a few days.
On the way home, not far from home, there was a loud bang as a bird flew into the side of the car. It was around 10pm and I of course stopped and saw a shape flapping around on the road. Close investigation revealed an owl. I foraged in the boot of the car and found some loose clothes and managed to wrap a struggling and clawing owl into a package and handed it to my eldest daughter and made the 30 minute detour to St Tiggywinkles. Thankfully they think the tawny owl has a broken wing and will be all right. They did comment that not many people will stop for an injured animal, all I would ask is that you do, a simple web search will show you the nearest sanctuary that will take them, it is the humane and right thing to do, when we stop caring we are lost.
Anyway, Tuesday was a day off, my rest day.
Wednesday was down to Glastonbury to see my Aunt Pat. I haven't seen her in a few years and she adores the girls. Unfortunately Anastasia has a stinking cold so we left her in bed. We met Pat in Cafe Spiral for lunch. They advertised gluten free sweet and savoury pancakes. The chap there said that he wasn't the pancake expert but would do his best and said we can pay at the end, if we like them, if not he'd just charge us for the drinks!
We had a nice catchup with Pat in this tiny Cafe, they didn't hassle us to leave and the pancakes were amazing. Anouska had a garlic mushrooms with a creamy sauce and spinach, I had cheese, red onions and mushrooms and Pat had smoked salmon, it was all really nice, definitely worth visiting and I paid him in full and tipped. Lovely service and the food was excellent.
We then had a wander around Glastonbury, looking in at all the Witchy shops, the crystals and the wands and the ceremonial garb.
We then left for Avebury.
There is not much to be said about Avebury, older than Stonehenge, it is a series of stone circles threaded throughout a village and a pub. Nearby is Silbury Hill and the West Kennet Long Barrow, if you've not been there then you must go, Avebury is wonderful.
We are now up to yesterday and it was time for the Clacton Airshow and the final flying year of the Vulcan. I feel very sad about that, it is criminal that the Government or the RAF haven't taken this mighty warbird on. It is sad that we no longer have any of the battleships left from either World War, no Mosquitos, only a single Lancaster and we have one airworthy Vulcan that is being grounded...I won't get into a rant about this because this makes me sad.
Anyway, the wind stopped the Lancaster from flying but it was all OK, the Spitfire and the Hurricane filled in for the old lady.
I then made the cardinal photographers error, my battery ran out and the spare was in the car, a 30 minute round trip away. I missed a few planes including the B17 and missed the first half of the Red Arrows but did catch the second half. They were unbelievable as usual, truly the best of British, the World's best pilots in a single squadron, long may they reign!
Then the fond farewell. The sound of the Vulcan was like the sky was being shredded then sudden peace as it turned away and then turned back so slowly, how can something so large stay aloft at such low speeds, graceful turns and those sleek lines, such a beautiful craft.
And then the new kid on the block, similar yet so different to the Vulcan, the Typhoon. Unlike the grace and curves of the Vulcan, this is the bad boy, looking like something forged in Mordor, all sharp lines and spikes with fire flaming out of it's arse, Sauron Junior.
It has been a busy week but lots of fun. I am shattered but it feels like it's been a little while since my last trip.
My next visits will be Somerset and Gloucestershire and I have heard today, possibly Dorset for the Wounded Badger Patrol, another reason so be sad and another reason to be mad at the bastard Government, bunch of tossers sitting in ivory towers making judgement calls that benefit friends and family and cost the rest of us and the Countryside, dear...
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
I will definitely be seeing JD McPherson again, it was a great night...
I went to a gig with my Dad last night. He is a bigger music fan than me, has a larger record collection, a better system and music should have been his work life because it has always meant so much to him. He has a more varied taste in music to me but we tend to meet at Rock n Roll. I guess it was my first musical love because of him, I adored Eddie Cochran, early Elvis and Gene Vincent, my Dad's influence possibly but it was my main musical love for a few years, enough that at 11 years old I had a quiff and put it in place with Brylcreem.
Anyway, my musical tastes diversified and my love of 1950's rock n roll diminished. I loved Elvis and Gene Vincent less although Eddie Cochran has always been dear to my heart, that never changed. I kind of forgot classic rock n roll until a couple of years ago when I heard "North Side Gal" by JD McPherson. Here is the man himself along with Jimmy Sutton his bass player and possibly the coolest individual I have ever seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRX46wcJMo0
I had spent sometime listening to both his albums and they are good but given a little time, they grow and given a live airing, they really come to life. I jump ahead of myself, the gig was at the Koko in Mornington Crescent (© I'm sorry I haven't a clue...probably). I always assumed that Mornington Crescent (© I'm sorry I haven't a clue...probably) was the name on a tube map that didn't actually exist as it was from the imagination of the late, great, Humphrey Lyttelton. The Koko looks an old art deco theatre, it is simply beautiful inside, all carved wood with red and gold and dimly lit with chandeliers, it is easily the prettiest venue I have ever visited for a gig (photos here: http://www.pureconsult.co.uk/venues/koko/).
The audience were a mixed bag, this being a short walk from Camden, there were plenty of younger fashionistas, 1950's floral dresses, immaculate hair and make up while the men's fashion was more eclectic, plenty of US 1950's fashions, think American Graffiti, plenty of work clothes, it being work night and the older crowd who remembered it the first time around with a few metalheads thrown in for good measure.
JD McPherson and his band hit the stage and they were ready to rock and roll but this being a London crowd, they take some warming up as London crowds are subdued compared to other parts of the UK. The band were tight, keyboards, rhythm guitarist/saxophonist, drummer, Jimmy Sutton on double bass and JD McPherson on guitar and vocals. The set was varied but always familiar as McPherson's musical preference stops before rock n roll sold out, it has the country twang in places, that jazz feel and in others that outright early rock n roll feel, it never touched on the psychobilly or the watered down version that rock n roll became. I could hear Eddie Cochran and Little Richard escaping in the music, an era where Elvis was pre-Army and pre-Colonel, he was the star of Sun and the music had a rebellious innocence to it.
It was a great concert, conducted at volumes that I am not familiar with as they were less than deafening and the crowd didn't surge and bounce, they danced and watched. JD McPherson has a fantastic singing voice, soulful when needed and with bite for the harder numbers. He reminds me a little of Bryan Adams, this was a no frills show, they came on to play music and have a good time and they did just that, no special effects or gimmicks needed, just an abundance of good songs, talent and passion. A special mention to Jimmy Sutton, apparently it was his birthday but I mention him because he is my new hero, he is the coolest guy I've ever seen on stage.
I will definitely be seeing JD McPherson again, it was a great night, fun and filled with passion and the unknown and a genuine feeling of bonhomie, these guys came in as strangers and left as friends.
Here they are on the streets again, this time doing "Scandalous"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOoF80nTzdI&index=2&list=RDoj5rhUgXyyA
Finally, here is the title song of the new album, do yourself a favour and look this up on whatever music service you use, if you like proper rock n roll this is for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj5rhUgXyyA&list=RDoj5rhUgXyyA&index=1
Anyway, my musical tastes diversified and my love of 1950's rock n roll diminished. I loved Elvis and Gene Vincent less although Eddie Cochran has always been dear to my heart, that never changed. I kind of forgot classic rock n roll until a couple of years ago when I heard "North Side Gal" by JD McPherson. Here is the man himself along with Jimmy Sutton his bass player and possibly the coolest individual I have ever seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRX46wcJMo0
I had spent sometime listening to both his albums and they are good but given a little time, they grow and given a live airing, they really come to life. I jump ahead of myself, the gig was at the Koko in Mornington Crescent (© I'm sorry I haven't a clue...probably). I always assumed that Mornington Crescent (© I'm sorry I haven't a clue...probably) was the name on a tube map that didn't actually exist as it was from the imagination of the late, great, Humphrey Lyttelton. The Koko looks an old art deco theatre, it is simply beautiful inside, all carved wood with red and gold and dimly lit with chandeliers, it is easily the prettiest venue I have ever visited for a gig (photos here: http://www.pureconsult.co.uk/venues/koko/).
The audience were a mixed bag, this being a short walk from Camden, there were plenty of younger fashionistas, 1950's floral dresses, immaculate hair and make up while the men's fashion was more eclectic, plenty of US 1950's fashions, think American Graffiti, plenty of work clothes, it being work night and the older crowd who remembered it the first time around with a few metalheads thrown in for good measure.
JD McPherson and his band hit the stage and they were ready to rock and roll but this being a London crowd, they take some warming up as London crowds are subdued compared to other parts of the UK. The band were tight, keyboards, rhythm guitarist/saxophonist, drummer, Jimmy Sutton on double bass and JD McPherson on guitar and vocals. The set was varied but always familiar as McPherson's musical preference stops before rock n roll sold out, it has the country twang in places, that jazz feel and in others that outright early rock n roll feel, it never touched on the psychobilly or the watered down version that rock n roll became. I could hear Eddie Cochran and Little Richard escaping in the music, an era where Elvis was pre-Army and pre-Colonel, he was the star of Sun and the music had a rebellious innocence to it.
It was a great concert, conducted at volumes that I am not familiar with as they were less than deafening and the crowd didn't surge and bounce, they danced and watched. JD McPherson has a fantastic singing voice, soulful when needed and with bite for the harder numbers. He reminds me a little of Bryan Adams, this was a no frills show, they came on to play music and have a good time and they did just that, no special effects or gimmicks needed, just an abundance of good songs, talent and passion. A special mention to Jimmy Sutton, apparently it was his birthday but I mention him because he is my new hero, he is the coolest guy I've ever seen on stage.
Here they are on the streets again, this time doing "Scandalous"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOoF80nTzdI&index=2&list=RDoj5rhUgXyyA
Finally, here is the title song of the new album, do yourself a favour and look this up on whatever music service you use, if you like proper rock n roll this is for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj5rhUgXyyA&list=RDoj5rhUgXyyA&index=1
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
...put me on 2 wheels and I have no road sense whatsoever...
I have discovered that I am a secret sports fan, it's been going on years and I've just realised it. Yesterday I found myself watching the athletics from Birmingham followed a little later by Bradley Wiggins 1 hour time trail world record attempt, followed by the Isle of Mann TT highlights. This wouldn't have been so bad if it was a one off but I have had the Isle of Mann TT on record for the past few years. I look forward the Rugby 6 Nations at the beginning of every year, there is often a World Championship or Olympic Games or a World Cup (Rugby preferably or football as a consolation prize) and then there are the Iron Man competitions they show on TV and the various athletics meets and occasionally boxing. When did this happen and why didn't I even notice?
The Isle of Mann TT is one of my highlights, it is simply incredible. I have my favourites of course, there is the fan's favourite, Guy Martin and let's hope he wins a TT race this year, there is the old guard, John McGuiness (21 times winner) and Bruce Anstey (lap record holder and 10 times winner as of Sunday) and the young guns, such as Lee Johnston and Michael Dunlop although he's a seasoned racer he is young,, who will be one of the greatest ever, just like his Uncle Joey, the King of the Road and many others such as Ian Hillier who deserves a win after 30+ operations after an accident that meant he has both his legs and is still racing and is very fast (2nd Sunday).
Here is Bruce's fastest lap from 2014, on board camera: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2g5ldr
I am not a biker, put me on 2 wheels and I have no road sense whatsoever, I am dangerous and not in a cool way, stupidly dangerous so I don't ride bikes and as I get older, I realise that they actually scare me more with every passing year. Watching the IoM TT, the bikes hit very close to 200mph and the frames, wheels, forks, all flex and pull in different directions. Seeing the front wheel of a bike wobbling while the rear wheels are snaking, all at 200mph and all the rider says (Bruce Anstey in this case) is "it got a little out of shape..." I can't fathom it, I would do an emergency stop after that and push the bike back.
Now the thing is, biking was always looked on as being cool and without doubt it is but these guys aren't that type of Barry Sheen cool, they are nerds. Mostly soft spoken, they live for the race and in between times they fill in the time with "mechanicking" or BMX riding and family. They are not the archetypal heroes on two wheels that we expect. I think they are amazing, they have no fear where every year my fear grows, maybe it is the the thrill of the race that out weighs the fear of death and many die on this course, there is usually one per TT (this year it was the Frenchman, Frank Petricola in practise 3 days before the racing was due to start) or maybe they just know how to bury it deep and live off the adrenaline rush. I do find them fascinating as personalities, they are a different breed and their lives are bikes, they use the IoM TT as their family holidays and they come from all over the Globe to compete and yet the prize money is low, £20,000 for the most prestigious races, bear in mind that is a fraction of the cost of the bikes but it might cover the transportation and running costs, so this isn't about the money, these races are pure unsullied competitive man and machine against the course, against time and against the various component elements that seek to crush him. This is a time trial race, each rider goes off 10 seconds apart and invariably the faster racers can get held up by back markers and it is this uncertainty together with the varied conditions of the course, that make this so exciting. One part can be bathed in sun where the mountain can be misty and windy and in other parts the overhanging trees can make the road damp. At these extreme speeds this isn't about reactions, it is about memorising the course because by the time you see the next bend it's too late, you're already into it and with the variable track conditions it is a case of "he who dares Rodney, he who dares...."
The rest of the week to go. I missed last nights highlights but I have them recorded so a double dose tonight. I am thinking that I might have to go over and visit the TT one year, although I seem to have promised myself a number of trips that haven't happened yet so I guess this will be one that I will just have to hope for and see if I remember to book tickets and accommodation in time.
The Isle of Mann TT is one of my highlights, it is simply incredible. I have my favourites of course, there is the fan's favourite, Guy Martin and let's hope he wins a TT race this year, there is the old guard, John McGuiness (21 times winner) and Bruce Anstey (lap record holder and 10 times winner as of Sunday) and the young guns, such as Lee Johnston and Michael Dunlop although he's a seasoned racer he is young,, who will be one of the greatest ever, just like his Uncle Joey, the King of the Road and many others such as Ian Hillier who deserves a win after 30+ operations after an accident that meant he has both his legs and is still racing and is very fast (2nd Sunday).
Here is Bruce's fastest lap from 2014, on board camera: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2g5ldr
I am not a biker, put me on 2 wheels and I have no road sense whatsoever, I am dangerous and not in a cool way, stupidly dangerous so I don't ride bikes and as I get older, I realise that they actually scare me more with every passing year. Watching the IoM TT, the bikes hit very close to 200mph and the frames, wheels, forks, all flex and pull in different directions. Seeing the front wheel of a bike wobbling while the rear wheels are snaking, all at 200mph and all the rider says (Bruce Anstey in this case) is "it got a little out of shape..." I can't fathom it, I would do an emergency stop after that and push the bike back.
Now the thing is, biking was always looked on as being cool and without doubt it is but these guys aren't that type of Barry Sheen cool, they are nerds. Mostly soft spoken, they live for the race and in between times they fill in the time with "mechanicking" or BMX riding and family. They are not the archetypal heroes on two wheels that we expect. I think they are amazing, they have no fear where every year my fear grows, maybe it is the the thrill of the race that out weighs the fear of death and many die on this course, there is usually one per TT (this year it was the Frenchman, Frank Petricola in practise 3 days before the racing was due to start) or maybe they just know how to bury it deep and live off the adrenaline rush. I do find them fascinating as personalities, they are a different breed and their lives are bikes, they use the IoM TT as their family holidays and they come from all over the Globe to compete and yet the prize money is low, £20,000 for the most prestigious races, bear in mind that is a fraction of the cost of the bikes but it might cover the transportation and running costs, so this isn't about the money, these races are pure unsullied competitive man and machine against the course, against time and against the various component elements that seek to crush him. This is a time trial race, each rider goes off 10 seconds apart and invariably the faster racers can get held up by back markers and it is this uncertainty together with the varied conditions of the course, that make this so exciting. One part can be bathed in sun where the mountain can be misty and windy and in other parts the overhanging trees can make the road damp. At these extreme speeds this isn't about reactions, it is about memorising the course because by the time you see the next bend it's too late, you're already into it and with the variable track conditions it is a case of "he who dares Rodney, he who dares...."
The rest of the week to go. I missed last nights highlights but I have them recorded so a double dose tonight. I am thinking that I might have to go over and visit the TT one year, although I seem to have promised myself a number of trips that haven't happened yet so I guess this will be one that I will just have to hope for and see if I remember to book tickets and accommodation in time.
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
...the best epitaph for Mother Love Bone and Andrew Wood.
Back in 1990, I was a rabid rock fan, always searching for the next new thing. I'd listened to LA, New York, the UK, I was and am an avid listener but back then it was always about something new. I bought Kerrang weekly, read up on new bands, went to a great many gigs, bought many rubbish albums and the magazine occasionally had a cassette on the front cover with new bands. One issue was superb, I bought 3 albums off it, I think it was the Black Crowes, Masters of Reality and Mother Love Bone.
The Mother Love Bone track was "Stardog Champion". It was the start of a link that continues to this day. "Stardog Champion" is a phenomenal rock track, it is big, heavy yet with an ethereal feel and the lyrics were nonsensical, adding a mystery, almost a secret to the song,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7CPIXnaeeQ
I was hooked. The whole album was brilliant, it rocked and funked yet was intermingled with a frailty and gentleness, it felt genuine and the stand back moments of piano and vocal were, are, wonderful.
Mother Love Bone rose from the ashes of Greenriver and Malfunkshun and their life was too short, an EP and one album and gone with the death of their singer, Andrew Wood, before the album even saw the light of day. They were my first Seattle band although in 1990 it meant nothing, Nirvana were still a year or so away, I hadn't discovered Soundgarden yet and Temple of the Dog didn't exist.
The reason for this post is because I watched "Malfunkshun: the Andrew Wood story" over the weekend and it was tragic, it is the story of a man who was destined to be a huge star and the tragedy was that he would never see his star shine, he was born into a life that never gave him a chance, trailer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IihcG0uLkk
Mother Love Bone, one album, one EP and a heck of a legacy, a blueprint for a band that should have paved the way for a far more interesting future for rock music than just grunge. Mother Love Bone split but were called back together for a one off project in the memory of Andrew Wood, Temple of the Dog, one of my all time favourite albums, an album I bought not because of the Andrew Wood link, it never crossed my mind at the time, but because of the lead off track, "Say Hello to Heaven" one of my all time favourite songs. I discovered Chris Cornell and Soundgarden, and my other all time favourite album, "Badmotor Finger".
Mother Love Bone became Pearljam and I saw them on their first UK jaunt at the ULU in London, a stunning gig with a very passionate and genuine band that played their hearts out. I still love "Ten" and "Alive", as their first single could be viewed as ironic or as a celebration of what it is to be alive despite everything.
And so the links of Mother Love Bone echo through my life, creating little paths that lead to memories and wishes, the various songs and lyrics that spoke to me then, still resonate, the words of a young man that spoke of his short future as if he knew what was coming,
"So please stop to laugh and pity me
My soul means well but I'm sorry
My skin it is withered and I'm nervous
My future was in my hands, 'til I washed it all away"
The Mother Love Bone track was "Stardog Champion". It was the start of a link that continues to this day. "Stardog Champion" is a phenomenal rock track, it is big, heavy yet with an ethereal feel and the lyrics were nonsensical, adding a mystery, almost a secret to the song,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7CPIXnaeeQ
I was hooked. The whole album was brilliant, it rocked and funked yet was intermingled with a frailty and gentleness, it felt genuine and the stand back moments of piano and vocal were, are, wonderful.
Mother Love Bone rose from the ashes of Greenriver and Malfunkshun and their life was too short, an EP and one album and gone with the death of their singer, Andrew Wood, before the album even saw the light of day. They were my first Seattle band although in 1990 it meant nothing, Nirvana were still a year or so away, I hadn't discovered Soundgarden yet and Temple of the Dog didn't exist.
The reason for this post is because I watched "Malfunkshun: the Andrew Wood story" over the weekend and it was tragic, it is the story of a man who was destined to be a huge star and the tragedy was that he would never see his star shine, he was born into a life that never gave him a chance, trailer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IihcG0uLkk
Mother Love Bone, one album, one EP and a heck of a legacy, a blueprint for a band that should have paved the way for a far more interesting future for rock music than just grunge. Mother Love Bone split but were called back together for a one off project in the memory of Andrew Wood, Temple of the Dog, one of my all time favourite albums, an album I bought not because of the Andrew Wood link, it never crossed my mind at the time, but because of the lead off track, "Say Hello to Heaven" one of my all time favourite songs. I discovered Chris Cornell and Soundgarden, and my other all time favourite album, "Badmotor Finger".
Mother Love Bone became Pearljam and I saw them on their first UK jaunt at the ULU in London, a stunning gig with a very passionate and genuine band that played their hearts out. I still love "Ten" and "Alive", as their first single could be viewed as ironic or as a celebration of what it is to be alive despite everything.
And so the links of Mother Love Bone echo through my life, creating little paths that lead to memories and wishes, the various songs and lyrics that spoke to me then, still resonate, the words of a young man that spoke of his short future as if he knew what was coming,
"So please stop to laugh and pity me
My soul means well but I'm sorry
My skin it is withered and I'm nervous
My future was in my hands, 'til I washed it all away"
(Come Bite the Apple taken from Apple)
The final song on the album is called "Crown of Thorns" and whilst it is epic, the EP version is prefaced with "Chloe Dancer" and the two together are the best epitaph for Mother Love Bone and Andrew Wood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyBJoFz_QPw
The final song on the album is called "Crown of Thorns" and whilst it is epic, the EP version is prefaced with "Chloe Dancer" and the two together are the best epitaph for Mother Love Bone and Andrew Wood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyBJoFz_QPw
Thursday, 7 May 2015
...shut up and accept it, after all, you voted for it...
TTIP is coming and it has the potential to undermine democratic and human rights. Please pay attention to it as it will affect every aspect of your life.
Linked to TTIP is the Government's line that the NHS won't be privatised but they are including elements of the NHS in TTIP. Why would a private company, driven by profit, invest in a not for profit organisation unless they can make some money out of it? That is privitisation, selling off the NHS, that we pay for, to an organisation that will bump up costs (that we have no choice but to pay) and giving that corporation the right to take the Government to court if any action is deemed as costing them profits (as per the ISDS). Here is the Government document about TTIP:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/311247/bis-14-695-investor-state-dispute-settlement-faqs.pdf
My concern is the fact that our democracy is being eroded and we have no say in the matter. TTIP is being negotiated in secret and whilst they may say that the documentation will be available on line, what exactly are we looking for and how do we know to look for it when we have no idea what is or what has been negotiated on our behalf? Bear in mind this is a negotiation of our rights and the only political party that opposes this is the Green Party (whom I am unlikely to vote for so don't think this is based on my political leanings). This being polling day, this isn't an attempt to sway UK voters on any way, all I want is people to be aware of what is currently happening behind closed doors as it affects the UK, Europe and the US.
We have nowhere near the rights we are entitled to as politicians fritter away our birthrights at every turn, keeping us trampled underfoot, unable to complain or even vote in a fair and democratic manner, manipulated by lies and the press into believing that up is down and black is white, distracted by the minutiae of celebrity and the inconsequential bickering of grown men that should know better as they insult, lie and shout the loudest to drown out any dissent, all the while behind the scenes the real tragedy plays out as secret deals are struck that infect our lives, encouraging the youth to ignore life as they live their real life on their phones, on Facebook and Twitter as they decide their futures based on whatever is spun their way, "sheepled" by the press and peer pressure, creating heroes from zeroes as they look for their rebellion and end up following the Pied Piper as they march happily off the edge of a cliff, subjecting themselves for another 5 years, eradicating still more rights and creating a situation where all that is left is a state that is managed by the wealthiest, for the wealthiest and everyone else should just shut up and accept it, after all, you voted for it...
I still have no idea who I will vote for and the clock is ticking but I will cast a vote.
Linked to TTIP is the Government's line that the NHS won't be privatised but they are including elements of the NHS in TTIP. Why would a private company, driven by profit, invest in a not for profit organisation unless they can make some money out of it? That is privitisation, selling off the NHS, that we pay for, to an organisation that will bump up costs (that we have no choice but to pay) and giving that corporation the right to take the Government to court if any action is deemed as costing them profits (as per the ISDS). Here is the Government document about TTIP:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/311247/bis-14-695-investor-state-dispute-settlement-faqs.pdf
My concern is the fact that our democracy is being eroded and we have no say in the matter. TTIP is being negotiated in secret and whilst they may say that the documentation will be available on line, what exactly are we looking for and how do we know to look for it when we have no idea what is or what has been negotiated on our behalf? Bear in mind this is a negotiation of our rights and the only political party that opposes this is the Green Party (whom I am unlikely to vote for so don't think this is based on my political leanings). This being polling day, this isn't an attempt to sway UK voters on any way, all I want is people to be aware of what is currently happening behind closed doors as it affects the UK, Europe and the US.
We have nowhere near the rights we are entitled to as politicians fritter away our birthrights at every turn, keeping us trampled underfoot, unable to complain or even vote in a fair and democratic manner, manipulated by lies and the press into believing that up is down and black is white, distracted by the minutiae of celebrity and the inconsequential bickering of grown men that should know better as they insult, lie and shout the loudest to drown out any dissent, all the while behind the scenes the real tragedy plays out as secret deals are struck that infect our lives, encouraging the youth to ignore life as they live their real life on their phones, on Facebook and Twitter as they decide their futures based on whatever is spun their way, "sheepled" by the press and peer pressure, creating heroes from zeroes as they look for their rebellion and end up following the Pied Piper as they march happily off the edge of a cliff, subjecting themselves for another 5 years, eradicating still more rights and creating a situation where all that is left is a state that is managed by the wealthiest, for the wealthiest and everyone else should just shut up and accept it, after all, you voted for it...
I still have no idea who I will vote for and the clock is ticking but I will cast a vote.
Friday, 24 April 2015
...a puny little thing called a "Fatman Blu".
I have been thinking about the deeper things in life more recently, World affairs, politics, animal welfare and valves.
The first 3 items on that list I can waffle on about but the only thing of any worth that I did come up with for any of them, that I think is a pretty good tag line, is:
"I don't eat animals because I love them more than I love the taste of them"
And that is precisely why I stopped eating meat. I have never put something so succinctly before, hence the need to share. I did tell a flock of sheep and a herd of cows that we can be friends because I no longer eat them, on one of my longer runs (I just wish that I was making that up).
Valves is the final word on that list and we're talking beautiful analog valves, the sort of valves that transport you to another place, the sort of valves that recreate music from the Gods, the sort of valves that take 5 minutes to warm up before you can use them, but the wait is more than worth it.
This is a usual "Mark" story, one that involves less money than I would usually fritter and as a result required less excuses. Let me illustrate that point. A few years ago I was on a customer site in darkest Surrey. I finished the meeting, left the customer and went to the cash point. I was particularly chuffed to see that a big sale had closed that month and my salary looked very good that day. I turned around and opposite me were two shops, a hifi shop and a coffee shop.
Glancing in the windows of both, I saw a huge chromed and grey monstrosity emblazoned with the legend, Gaggia, a name that was to become the synonymous in my household with unreliability, but that is another story. It was a beans to cup coffee machine. Given that this is more than 10 years ago, it predates the popularity and acceptance of expensive coffee as served by the likes of Costa Coffee and Starbucks. At £600, I bought the machine. Now the journey back gave me time to think of reasons for spending such a large wad of cash on something so frivolous, by the time I got home I still had nothing. So I set the machine up and before a question could be asked (such as how much was that huge, ugly and shiny beacon of a coffee machine), I made a coffee for the family. It was amazing and despite the fact I would never buy another Gaggia, the coffee was so good, it was far better than the coffee you get off the high street now. By the end of the night Elizabeth and I were buzzing, high on caffeine, 6 or 8 cups in, and these were 3/4/ pint cups. I had the shakes and felt a little ill, it was that bad. Anyway, the coffee justified the cost luckily for me, and Elizabeth is a far bigger coffee drinker than I am.
I digress, I took a jaunt down to "Richer Sounds" and asked what valve amps they had and they only had a puny little thing called a "Fatman Blu". At less than £200 I wasn't interested. I have a real hifi at home, one I inherited from my Dad. It has a Linn record deck, a Nad pre-amp and a Quad 405 power amp as well as hand built British ProAC speakers. An antiquated system but with a hell of a sound, true hifi. I asked the sales chap if he had anything dearer (how pretentious is that, as if sound quality and cost go hand in hand. In my defence, I had done some homework and the going rate is around £500+ for a valve amp). Anyway, I wasn't in the market to buy, I was simply putting out feelers. My next question is the one that doomed me. Listening habits have changed dramatically, my children listen to music from their phones and to a certain degree, so do I and the most convenient way of doing that is over bluetooth so I asked if he had anything that I could connect to my existing system and that led into a conversation about the "blu" in Fatman Blu. Now Richard, my sales guy did a great job and managed to get me into the listening room and then the amp did its business on me.
It looks good, it is small and is a hybrid of solid state and valves and at 28W per channel, has some power (my Quad is 100W) but it was sitting there and streaming low quality mp3 files from my phone that did it. They sounded wonderful. I realised there and then that I needed this little amp in my life and so did my children. I could see my youngest sitting in the front room, doing her homework whilst streaming background music from her phone. I could see myself hooking my record deck into it and streaming from my phone and enjoying the sheer pleasure of music, the warmth of the valves, lying across the sofa in the dark, watching the warm glow of the valves while something ambient plays, soothing and delicate, punctuated with a screaming guitar solo, or maybe not.
I got the amp home, hooked it up and my biggest concern was the ability for this piddly amp to drive my massive ProAC speakers, yet they did and they did it well. My youngest daughter has spent 3 evenings just listening to music with me, no TV. We sprawled out across the sofas in the dark and passed my phone around and streamed different songs from it. How many 16 (nearly 17) year olds will do that with their Dads? My eldest has asked, if/when I replace this with my dream amp, can she have it. And finally, my Dad has listened to it and it amazed him that something so small and cheap, can have such a good sound. It has made mp3 files sound like hifi, it has filled in the many flaws of that format and presented a sound that is good to the ear. It probably won't compete with a £500+ valve amp but I'm not convinced that the difference in cost will be worth the improvement in sound quality, which I think will be minimal.
So my advice to anyone that wants a decent sound at a budget price, go and buy a Fatman Blu. If you're at all like me and a bit of an arse, it would be very easy to let something like this slip past because it doesn't match your ideal, the fact is that nothing will ever match your ideal but this amp comes close to it and also matches an ideal I never knew I had.
Thank you to Richard at Richer Sounds in Milton Keynes.
The first 3 items on that list I can waffle on about but the only thing of any worth that I did come up with for any of them, that I think is a pretty good tag line, is:
"I don't eat animals because I love them more than I love the taste of them"
And that is precisely why I stopped eating meat. I have never put something so succinctly before, hence the need to share. I did tell a flock of sheep and a herd of cows that we can be friends because I no longer eat them, on one of my longer runs (I just wish that I was making that up).
Valves is the final word on that list and we're talking beautiful analog valves, the sort of valves that transport you to another place, the sort of valves that recreate music from the Gods, the sort of valves that take 5 minutes to warm up before you can use them, but the wait is more than worth it.
This is a usual "Mark" story, one that involves less money than I would usually fritter and as a result required less excuses. Let me illustrate that point. A few years ago I was on a customer site in darkest Surrey. I finished the meeting, left the customer and went to the cash point. I was particularly chuffed to see that a big sale had closed that month and my salary looked very good that day. I turned around and opposite me were two shops, a hifi shop and a coffee shop.
Glancing in the windows of both, I saw a huge chromed and grey monstrosity emblazoned with the legend, Gaggia, a name that was to become the synonymous in my household with unreliability, but that is another story. It was a beans to cup coffee machine. Given that this is more than 10 years ago, it predates the popularity and acceptance of expensive coffee as served by the likes of Costa Coffee and Starbucks. At £600, I bought the machine. Now the journey back gave me time to think of reasons for spending such a large wad of cash on something so frivolous, by the time I got home I still had nothing. So I set the machine up and before a question could be asked (such as how much was that huge, ugly and shiny beacon of a coffee machine), I made a coffee for the family. It was amazing and despite the fact I would never buy another Gaggia, the coffee was so good, it was far better than the coffee you get off the high street now. By the end of the night Elizabeth and I were buzzing, high on caffeine, 6 or 8 cups in, and these were 3/4/ pint cups. I had the shakes and felt a little ill, it was that bad. Anyway, the coffee justified the cost luckily for me, and Elizabeth is a far bigger coffee drinker than I am.
I digress, I took a jaunt down to "Richer Sounds" and asked what valve amps they had and they only had a puny little thing called a "Fatman Blu". At less than £200 I wasn't interested. I have a real hifi at home, one I inherited from my Dad. It has a Linn record deck, a Nad pre-amp and a Quad 405 power amp as well as hand built British ProAC speakers. An antiquated system but with a hell of a sound, true hifi. I asked the sales chap if he had anything dearer (how pretentious is that, as if sound quality and cost go hand in hand. In my defence, I had done some homework and the going rate is around £500+ for a valve amp). Anyway, I wasn't in the market to buy, I was simply putting out feelers. My next question is the one that doomed me. Listening habits have changed dramatically, my children listen to music from their phones and to a certain degree, so do I and the most convenient way of doing that is over bluetooth so I asked if he had anything that I could connect to my existing system and that led into a conversation about the "blu" in Fatman Blu. Now Richard, my sales guy did a great job and managed to get me into the listening room and then the amp did its business on me.
It looks good, it is small and is a hybrid of solid state and valves and at 28W per channel, has some power (my Quad is 100W) but it was sitting there and streaming low quality mp3 files from my phone that did it. They sounded wonderful. I realised there and then that I needed this little amp in my life and so did my children. I could see my youngest sitting in the front room, doing her homework whilst streaming background music from her phone. I could see myself hooking my record deck into it and streaming from my phone and enjoying the sheer pleasure of music, the warmth of the valves, lying across the sofa in the dark, watching the warm glow of the valves while something ambient plays, soothing and delicate, punctuated with a screaming guitar solo, or maybe not.
I got the amp home, hooked it up and my biggest concern was the ability for this piddly amp to drive my massive ProAC speakers, yet they did and they did it well. My youngest daughter has spent 3 evenings just listening to music with me, no TV. We sprawled out across the sofas in the dark and passed my phone around and streamed different songs from it. How many 16 (nearly 17) year olds will do that with their Dads? My eldest has asked, if/when I replace this with my dream amp, can she have it. And finally, my Dad has listened to it and it amazed him that something so small and cheap, can have such a good sound. It has made mp3 files sound like hifi, it has filled in the many flaws of that format and presented a sound that is good to the ear. It probably won't compete with a £500+ valve amp but I'm not convinced that the difference in cost will be worth the improvement in sound quality, which I think will be minimal.
So my advice to anyone that wants a decent sound at a budget price, go and buy a Fatman Blu. If you're at all like me and a bit of an arse, it would be very easy to let something like this slip past because it doesn't match your ideal, the fact is that nothing will ever match your ideal but this amp comes close to it and also matches an ideal I never knew I had.
Thank you to Richard at Richer Sounds in Milton Keynes.
Monday, 13 April 2015
I went to Wales last weekend...
I've had so many different blogs written and ready to go but keep changing my mind. I thought I should write a political one but what is there to say? Our choice is so poor, the people running are all sub standard and most them are from the wrong side of the tracks that they have an absolute inability to relate to the majority of the population, coming from extremely wealthy families and not having ever had to scrimp and scrape to live. I won't be voting Conservative and I have no idea who I will vote for but the one thing that does turn my stomach is the line that keeps coming from all the parties, "Vote for so and so to keep so and so out of power."
Thousands of years of fighting for democracy, thousands of lives spent and still dying for freedom all distilled into "don't vote for the policies you believe in, block vote for who we tell you to vote for."
Is this really what it comes down to? It makes me sick. Vote for your beliefs, vote for the policies that are closest to your heart, vote for someone you trust to do right by you, that is what democracy is about, not plumping for second best or someone else's choice for your vote. Make your voice heard, that is what democracy is all about.
Anyway, I went to Wales last weekend, specifically I went to Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall and then to Shell Island. It was a stunning day. I had both my girls with me and the youngest brought her boyfriend along, a nice lad that I may let live a while longer.
This is the first trip in a while and the destination was decided at 11pm the night before after we decided to chase the Sun,
It was a beautiful day, the weather was glorious all day but I should mention that when we got to the waterfall I did fall over on the rocks. My girls laughed at me and it took a complete stranger to ask me if I was OK for my embarrassment to become complete but it was worth it, who would believe that this is in the UK?
The last time that I was here was a few years ago and it was a cold and icy day and very barren so it must have been winter. It was still breathtakingly beautiful and something that you just don't expect to see, a hidden treasure.
I thoroughly recommend making the effort, it is very pretty and as you can see, it is a picture book waterfall.
The journey to Shell Island was a complete nightmare. It isn't on a map so we were relying on memory to get us there. I was guessing it was in the Aberdovey region so we spent over n hour driving up and down until my daughter remembered that it was much further north and it is infact 6 miles south of Harlech Castle.
On the way there I did have to pull in and take a photo of Bala Lake.
Thousands of years of fighting for democracy, thousands of lives spent and still dying for freedom all distilled into "don't vote for the policies you believe in, block vote for who we tell you to vote for."
Is this really what it comes down to? It makes me sick. Vote for your beliefs, vote for the policies that are closest to your heart, vote for someone you trust to do right by you, that is what democracy is about, not plumping for second best or someone else's choice for your vote. Make your voice heard, that is what democracy is all about.
Anyway, I went to Wales last weekend, specifically I went to Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall and then to Shell Island. It was a stunning day. I had both my girls with me and the youngest brought her boyfriend along, a nice lad that I may let live a while longer.
This is the first trip in a while and the destination was decided at 11pm the night before after we decided to chase the Sun,
The last time that I was here was a few years ago and it was a cold and icy day and very barren so it must have been winter. It was still breathtakingly beautiful and something that you just don't expect to see, a hidden treasure.
I thoroughly recommend making the effort, it is very pretty and as you can see, it is a picture book waterfall.
The journey to Shell Island was a complete nightmare. It isn't on a map so we were relying on memory to get us there. I was guessing it was in the Aberdovey region so we spent over n hour driving up and down until my daughter remembered that it was much further north and it is infact 6 miles south of Harlech Castle.
On the way there I did have to pull in and take a photo of Bala Lake.
When we eventually found Shell Island it was as pretty as ever and quite busy, let me just clarify that statement, there were plenty of people there but with close to 5 miles worth of beach that stretches half a mile to the sea, a thousand people wouldn't crowd it so despite the numbers of people there, all it meant was that we didn't have the beach to ourselves.
It was around 4ish when we got there, the sun was high and bright yet a heavy mist had rolled in from the sea, creating the most peculiar lighting. Here is my youngest with her beau.
Just to illustrate the point, the top of Shell Island was clear but looking out across the bay, it could have been Africa, it was the Mountains looming over the water, bathed in mist, all that was missing was a herd of wildebeest.
The journey home was sheer hell. I decided that a journey across Wales to try and get home on the A40 was the way to do it. Why take the motorways when I am sure I can find a better route...
Unfortunately my youngest is the map reader and she fell asleep so I had to keep pulling in a checking the map because there is very little signal for my phone's satnav. At one point I even drove 45 minutes back towards Wales before I realised my mistake and turned the car around. My eldest kept awake and kept me company and we listened to Classic FM all the way home, what a civilised way to travel!
From a 6.30am start, we got home just before midnight. It had been a truly memorable day and a special pleasure to have both girls with me.
Friday, 20 March 2015
Eclipse 2015
I do find natural and unusual phenomena to be incredible and moving, showing us how insignificant we are on this planet and in this Universe, something that we need to be told regularly (some of us more than others!)
Nature certainly has its ways though.
Nature certainly has its ways though.
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Don't live in fear...
I did have a post written and ready to go about Charlie Hebdo, written as the siege was coming to an end. The reason for not posting it is because every genuine sentiment in the world has been said, every word that I wrote sounded hollow.
Long live democracy, the freedom of expression, the ability to live and love without reprisals and don't live in fear or else they win.
Long live democracy, the freedom of expression, the ability to live and love without reprisals and don't live in fear or else they win.
Monday, 5 January 2015
Happy New Year!
I stood in the shower on January 1st and washed away the old year, it genuinely felt like starting from fresh, out with the old and in with the new.
Last year wasn't a bad year but it was a year of discovery for me. Many of my values were questioned in the course of my life and found lacking. Many of my beliefs were brought into focus and found to be hollow and some beliefs, childish as they are, I still believe despite the evidence to the contrary.
My conservative nature clashed with my humanity over the last year. I discovered that I did care passionately about animals and their lack of habitat and our lack of concern and understanding are the problems.
Towards Christmas I saw far too many homeless people in areas that have never had homeless people and they are all young. There is something dreadfully wrong with a rich society that allows young people to fall through the cracks and end up living on the street, and no, there is no shelter open to them, it was closed until today,
Many people will throw out the line that they don't give to the homeless incase they spend it on drink or drugs. I don't care what they spend it on, it is whatever it takes to get them through the day or the night. My wife did give some young chap some money and we saw him 10 minutes later buying a sandwich in a coffee shop (she then bought him a cup of tea).
But this is a new year and a fresh start with a positive attitude. I am hoping that this year we can change the World. I don't think that is over ambitious and last year, 2014, people power became a thing. People finally found ways of making their feelings known in ways that transcend the hollowness of Facebook and most trendy social media. Twitter became the real tool that was used to alert the masses and organise people to action and it appears that the Internet may prove to be the giant slayer this year, uncovering some horrible truths and bringing the untouchables to justice, we can but hope.
Roll on 2015, may you be a year of change and a year of hope.
PS. That belief I hold that is childish? I still believe in Father Christmas, it may be the spirit of Father Christmas or it may be a belief in the magic of the time of year, who knows.
Last year wasn't a bad year but it was a year of discovery for me. Many of my values were questioned in the course of my life and found lacking. Many of my beliefs were brought into focus and found to be hollow and some beliefs, childish as they are, I still believe despite the evidence to the contrary.
My conservative nature clashed with my humanity over the last year. I discovered that I did care passionately about animals and their lack of habitat and our lack of concern and understanding are the problems.
Towards Christmas I saw far too many homeless people in areas that have never had homeless people and they are all young. There is something dreadfully wrong with a rich society that allows young people to fall through the cracks and end up living on the street, and no, there is no shelter open to them, it was closed until today,
Many people will throw out the line that they don't give to the homeless incase they spend it on drink or drugs. I don't care what they spend it on, it is whatever it takes to get them through the day or the night. My wife did give some young chap some money and we saw him 10 minutes later buying a sandwich in a coffee shop (she then bought him a cup of tea).
But this is a new year and a fresh start with a positive attitude. I am hoping that this year we can change the World. I don't think that is over ambitious and last year, 2014, people power became a thing. People finally found ways of making their feelings known in ways that transcend the hollowness of Facebook and most trendy social media. Twitter became the real tool that was used to alert the masses and organise people to action and it appears that the Internet may prove to be the giant slayer this year, uncovering some horrible truths and bringing the untouchables to justice, we can but hope.
Roll on 2015, may you be a year of change and a year of hope.
PS. That belief I hold that is childish? I still believe in Father Christmas, it may be the spirit of Father Christmas or it may be a belief in the magic of the time of year, who knows.
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