tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29743479373874542592024-02-07T11:28:46.555+00:00Teaching the Swedes CricketIn between planning my forthcoming wedding, studying to be a bookkeeper and everything else that goes with life - I blog...Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-35027610263335699562012-12-29T10:42:00.002+00:002012-12-29T10:42:37.881+00:00Mission Accomplished<div style="text-align: justify;">
We now find ourselves in those weird inbetween days between Christmas and New Year, when you're not sure whether to rest and recuperate or to continue celebrating for the whole period. In a similar way I have been between blogs.</div>
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From the new year I will be blogging here <a href="http://jamesbessant.blogspot.co.uk/">James Bessant Writing</a> and as such this will be the last post in this blog. You would be forgiven for thinking that I had forgotten about it anyway, but other things have come into the way since the wedding. Namely continued landlord problems, but more happily the news that next Spring I will become a father...scary! But also exciting.</div>
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So why is this post titled so? Well, the clue is in the title of my blog.</div>
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The photos above were taken the day after the wedding, of my new wife and some of her family playing cricket in the garden. Admittedly all we had was a tennis ball and plank of wood, and a tree for the stumps, but all the same, here is proof that I have managed to teach the swedes cricket! See you on the new blog...</div>
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<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-52248062231535360452012-07-31T18:32:00.000+01:002012-07-31T18:33:19.388+01:00Sunday Morning; Woke Up Married<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The deed is done<br />
The vows are read<br />
The knot is tied<br />
Made the marriage bed.<br />
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The sky stayed clear<br />
The rain came not<br />
The photos taken<br />
The nerves forgot.<br />
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The food was ate<br />
The wine was poured<br />
The speeches read<br />
And none were bored.<br />
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The couple danced<br />
And cut the cake<br />
They kept in step<br />
Without mistake.<br />
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As the sun fell down<br />
On the start of their life<br />
A new beginning<br />
Husband & wife.<br />
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Photos by Lina Karlsson<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-45496487254674308622012-07-18T23:18:00.001+01:002012-07-18T23:18:39.695+01:00The TearOnce again it's a very long time since I blogged. The wedding and other activities have gotten in the way. However, I have just finished listening to the Richard Burton legacy on Radio Two, and I don't know whether it is the voice, the words, the poetry, the choirs, the sounds at least, but I was moved to write a poem. It has nothing really to do with Burton, just a poem and I wanted to share it with you.<br />
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I sat there, listening</div>
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A tear formed in the corner of my eye</div>
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And began to roll</div>
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Picking up speed, dragging the remnants of dead skin with it</div>
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Passing over the cracks in the pavement face</div>
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A single tear to me</div>
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Erupting out of me</div>
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In that single drop</div>
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All my loves and fears and hopes</div>
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Found condensed into liquid form</div>
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Leaving tracks on my cheek</div>
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To dry, to vanish</div>
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And remain bottled up once more.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-64499778314814241552012-06-15T17:37:00.001+01:002012-06-15T17:37:12.515+01:00BabysatAfter the recent story about David Cameron leaving his daughter in the pub while he went home, I wondered whether his credibility to look after the country had fallen since he has trouble looking after just one member of the population...therefore I have a question to ask and I would be grateful if you could give an honest an answer as you possibly can...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DH2PD2R">Click here to take survey</a>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-20993325406610115612012-04-25T18:17:00.000+01:002012-04-25T18:17:43.097+01:00Twelfth Man<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hard to believe it's been a whole month since I last blogged. I could use the excuse that my fiancee's computer broke down and so we've been sharing mine, and as such I haven't had as much use of it as usual. But that would be a bit unfair on her.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I could also use the excuse that I have been writing some pieces for my manager's retirement do (I was asked after my office realised I was the only person with any creative side), and so been writing elsewhere. That, I guess would be more justified.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Either way, it's been awhile. So by way of an apology I have a short story for you today, if you could call it a story that is. It's more of a short piece, inspired by the tons of John le Carre that I have been reading lately and the start of the cricket season. It is called Twelfth Man.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Operationally, he’d gotten the batting order completely
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starting off with Simpson and
Blacklock to make an impression was a huge mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, it was all guns blazing (literally)
as if bullets were going out of fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not in Charlton Heston’s lifetime he thought ruefully, let alone
mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least they had seen off one of
them, nothing like two big ones over the rope in the first over for that.</div>
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Still, it left poor Frazer with amends to make, partnerships
to build under fire; not his thing that, poor Frazer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t last long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should have opened with him, he thought,
given him less exposure before the big off.</div>
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Then it was Charlie, the kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still called him Charlie rather than Owens as
he would with the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He guessed he’d taken to the kid,
not a thing to do in this job, but he was the sort of kid you took to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scruffy hair, ruddy cheeks and more go than a
Twenty20 cheerleader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did his best,
but it called for steadier hands, older hands, hands that had worn themselves
through a dozen pairs of gloves and not still breaking in the first.</div>
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Rawlins would have done that, were it not for that bit of
bad luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No-one expects the lunch lady
to pull off a thing like that, even if they are a quarter Russian and half
Iranian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">he</i> hadn’t seen that, let alone Rawlins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d have pulled Charlie through if he
could’ve but it was just too much for the kid.</div>
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And then it was he himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He envisaged coming in at the last to score the winning runs, Captain,
‘keeper, all-rounder to finish things off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was never a starter, always
found it hard to get up in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But once he was up, once he was out in the middle, he was more
concentrated than the evaporated that never failed to appear with the sticky
toffee at tea.</div>
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But by then he didn’t have many with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only the back roomers; or the tail as he
liked to call them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O’Connor and Bailey,
Ambleside and Davidson, and finally the big giant they called the Blacksmith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flaherty his real name, an Irishman by
descent only and had seen both sides of the troubles at close quarters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plenty of experience, but that meant age in
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And the poor fellows didn’t even have protection; no pads
let alone helmets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with five and a
half ounces coming at you out of the dark at ninety miles per hour, no one
gamely calling ‘Play’ let alone a sightscreen, well you’ve got no chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No chance at all.</div>
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So here he was, last man standing, the team all out and it
only being tea on day one; or at least that’s how it could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still had one more trick to play
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One more roll of the proverbial
to cast out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His twelfth man, tea boy,
water carrier. </div>
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He would have stuck him in the first eleven, first name on
the team sheet, star player but the selectors said no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even injury, sickness or return of the plague
would not change their minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bad sort,
they said, not a team player, chequerboard past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfect he thought for the game of chess that
this was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But still no they said. And
they were adamant.</div>
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But then it dawned on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who best to have in reserve than him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If the selectors won’t pick him then even they wouldn’t think of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considered out of favour and consigned
to the nets as a warm-up for the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He had still hoped not to have to use him, but use him he must now or
else the game was indeed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You didn’t
come back from being all out at tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
picked up the telephone. </div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-71922540948827216512012-03-26T22:17:00.000+01:002012-03-26T22:17:37.946+01:00MesscoIt's been quite a while since I last blogged. This past fortnight has been a little crazy really, partly for reasons that I would rather not go into, but partly also because of Tesco.<br />
For over a year now we have had regular home deliveries from Tesco and they have worked really well for us. Living a good mile and a bit from our nearest store, it is not always easy to walk home laden with bags of potatoes, pots of yoghurt and other heavy items. Therefore to have these delivered to your doorstep is a great thing.<br />
However, in the past couple of months Tesco have closed ten of their local 'hubs' and are operating from a single one in Enfield - which is a long long way from where I live. As such our order from two months ago arrived an hour and half late. We had guests at the time and part of our dinner was in said order, making a very embarrasing and frustrating evening for us.<br />
Having been told that they were going through teething problems with their new setup, we decided to wait a few weeks and give them another chance. Big mistake. Last week our order failed to turn up at all. Upon contacting customer services we were told that the driver had in fact turned up but then contacted the depot to say that the customer wasn't in!<br />
We were fuming, to put it mildly, since both of us had been waiting and twiddling our thumbs, not being able to concentrate, for the last two hours. It did not help matters to be told that we would now have to re-order if we wanted our shopping delivered. We still have yet to be updated as to how the driver ascertained that we were not in, or whether indeed he had bothered to check.<br />
More annoyingly the Tesco customer feedback forms only hold statements of 1000 characters long whereas my complaint and questions ran for 4000 words. I had to break it up into five segments, only to find that Tesco then wanted to contact me five times, despite the fact that I had written at the bottom of each one Part X of 5.<br />
After have been given some money off vouchers by the services team we decided to give them one more chance, and to order outside of the rush hour, to be delivered today. Once again it was late, and I was just about to call them, but at least it turned up. Most of our order was there, but one important thing was missing...Milk. How on earth do you run out of milk??<br />
Anyway, as far as we're concerned Tesco have now run out of chances and we will try a different store. We are holding thumbs and crossing fingers that they will be better. For now though, here is a poem simply called Messco.<br />
<br />
<b>Messco </b><br />
<br />
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<br />
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There’s nothing noble in baseline profit</div>
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There’s always somebody who has to cough it</div>
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Up in the end; The customer</div>
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Who barks and yelps,</div>
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Yacking their complaints to underpaid service staff</div>
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Told nothing but ‘Every Little Helps’</div>
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And treated like the hounds of their masters.</div>
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The trouble with cost-cutting-corners</div>
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Are the sharp edges that can cut both ways</div>
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Patronage can be withheld</div>
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Loyalty is felled like a tree half-hacked</div>
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And needs nothing but a nudge</div>
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In a forest that could take others with it.</div>
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Beware your cutting of branches.</div>
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Maybe it’s time for a self-checkout </div>
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Of policy, for there is no doubt</div>
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That this is not your Finest* hour.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-431540541703150932012-03-15T20:39:00.000+00:002012-03-15T20:39:43.968+00:00What's In A City?For those of you who don't know, with it being Jubilee year the Queen got the chance to create a new city within the UK. I guess there have to be some perks to doing the same job for so long. In order to be eligible, towns and boroughs bid for the chance to be that city, obviously spending a certain amount of public money to do so. My borough of Tower Hamlets was one of them, however it didn't win.<br />
Now, if there was some tangible benefit of being a city then it might be worth punting a few quid on it. However if you are called a city then that is it - simply, you are a city. You do not get tax breaks or to make your own rules any more than you can anyway, it doesn't give you the chance to build a toll gate for everyone who wants to come in, or probably in some cases for those wanting to get out.<br />
So why would you bother?<br />
According to the Tower Hamlets mayor, it would provide extra investment and was backed by businesses. Personally I start running for the hills as soon as I find out that something has been backed by business since it therefore probably benefits big business in some way and nothing more.<br />
It is far more likely that the mayor saw this as his chance of creating his legacy, to become the mayor who made Tower Hamlets a city. It would certainly add to his after dinner speaking credentials. Much more than, say, the mayor who brought food waste recycling to every resident, or perhaps the mayor who created pelican crossings that work in favour of pedestrians and not cars.<br />
Whatever the reason, in a world where less and less money is being spent on public services, my mayor decided to spend even less by giving his ego a boost by betting on something with extremely long odds. He would have been better off buying us all a lottery ticket which would have provided investment to small shops who have lottery machines, a portion of which would have gone to charities, and if anybody won then they would probably also spend their winnings locally.<br />
But then, I doubt 'business' would have back that, would they? <br />
<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-19423847937294485392012-03-13T21:55:00.002+00:002012-03-13T21:55:32.323+00:00Fire in Babylon<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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More documentary than film, this story of the West Indies
cricket team during the 1970’s and 80’s did however get a limited UK release,
and is a must see for any real fan of the game of cricket.</div>
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Through interviews with the players of the time, including
Viv Richards, Michael Holding and Clive Lloyd, and some colourful characters
from the Caribbean islands, it tells how the West Indies went from a divided
group of Calypso cricketers to the feared attack that went fifteen years
without losing a test series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
intersperses this with footage from games, along with musical interludes.</div>
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This highly enjoyable piece of filmmaking really highlighted
for me the difficulties that black cricketers were still undergoing only thirty
or so years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some ways you can
look at it and be pleased that there is far less obvious racism, although in
the light of recent incidents within football, there is still a long way to go.</div>
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In cricket terms it was sad to see that some players,
officials and watchers at the time couldn’t see beyond the colour of their
skin, and when they started to become dominant, to say that it was only due to
not playing the game properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seemed
to completely overlook the fact that the winning West Indian team had been
inspired by the aggression of the Australian fast bowlers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then they of course were white, which
makes it OK.</div>
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It also gives another slant on the idea that sport and
politics should not mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However this is
only really possible in a perfect world and the truth is that sport is just as
intertwined with politics as any other aspect of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For sportsmen to assume that theirs is an
isolated little world is very naive, and as difficult as it is, they should be
taking a tougher stand with things that they don’t agree with, even if it means
that they cannot play their sport.</div>
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But it is also marvellous to see the likes of Holding and
Garner, Roberts and Marshall in their prime, peppering batsmen, destroying
stumps and causing the mayhem that they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the great aspects of test cricket is to see how a batsman faces
up to a genuine fast bowler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is tense
and exciting and can really get a crowd going.</div>
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I would definitely recommend this to someone who likes their
cricket, but also to those who are interested in the social aspects of
sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eight out of ten.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-73539379870554531892012-03-06T20:26:00.000+00:002012-03-06T20:26:23.619+00:00Symptoms of WithdrawalI had a week off work last week, and much needed it was too. Not that I do a stressful job or anything - far from it in fact - it's just that we've been a bit short handed lately and with the knowledge that I have to get some spreadsheets in place later in the summer it felt like I wasn't moving forward.<br />
Anyway, it was a nice break, in some ways nicer because by fiancee was feeling unwell and as such we didn't really do much. It was a week of reading books, listening to the radio and marking the time of day with meals, with a brief excursion to the registry office to register our intent to get married.<br />
After somewhat withdrawing from the world for a few days you get to realise that you don't miss it at all. One of the hardest things as a human being at the moment is reconciling your own personal life and all the things that matter to you with the world as a whole and how that may or may not affect someone in a small village on Kiribati. And what is hardest is knowing how little control you have over it.<br />
For all our democracy we still only have a faint say in who even runs the country, and how they then act afterwards is completely beyond our control for five years, until we get a faint say again. So by the time their actions, combined with the actions of other leaders and other countries, affects that person on Kiribati we have lost all control and influence. But then the media portray that it's all our fault, and if we just buy a different shampoo then it'll all be well.<br />
Well, maybe I'm being a bit over the top, but you get the point.<br />
What I'm trying to say really is that when you get away from all the 'stuff' that floats around in the world, you begin to realise what is actually important; It's the people you care about, a roof over your head and some good food in your belly. It just gets you wishing for an isolated cottage somewhere with a bit of land to grow vegetables, a fruit tree, a handful of chickens and a couple of sheep; At least it does in my dream world.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-24072627825669004512012-03-02T19:54:00.000+00:002012-03-02T19:54:00.609+00:00Rich Man's Plaything<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I have been a fan of Sheffield Wednesday for almost twenty
years now, and nothing, until two days ago, has made me consider no longer
being a fan. Through relegations and promotions, the ups and the numerous lows,
I have followed them, but please consider the recent developments.</div>
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The team as of Wednesday lay third in the league, and only
two points behind second place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a run
of three defeats, they had still drawn a home crowd of 36.600 (the highest in
the whole football league this season outside the Premiership) for their game
against Sheffield Utd, which they won. The chairman, Milan Mandaric then sacked
the manager.</div>
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This same chairman had only recently been acquitted of tax
evasion, but then since he is a very rich man, he would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trouble with tax law is that it is not
black and white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are lots of
different things that you can do in certain situations, and it depends a lot on
your motives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And motives can never
really be proven in a court of law, and least not without reasonable doubt.</div>
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It got me thinking about how much the world is now nothing
more than a rich man’s plaything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit
of a leap from a football club sacking its manager you might say, but hear me
out.</div>
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Sticking with football, a vast majority of clubs are owned
by rich men, and they don’t always treat them as they should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Roman Abramovitch at Chelsea who also
sacks managers for fun, with the problems at Portsmouth and now Rangers, along
with other numerous clubs that have been mismanaged financially, with no
thought to the human and emotional side which is the fans and which is what
keeps the clubs going.</div>
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Then there are the oil companies who happily ruin ecologies
all over the world, and the banks who constantly gamble with other people’s
money and as we have seen with the recent crash, their lives and livelihoods
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s rare to find a politician
(especially in the UK) who isn’t a millionaire and of course there are the
media moguls and the advertisers who constantly tell us what we can read and
see, and more importantly what we can’t.</div>
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We have all become the baby brother who is thrown out of the
sandpit, forced to stand by and watch as the older brother accepts payment for
his friends to soil into what should be ours to enjoy, before they all go off
and destroy someone else’s toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How we
stop them, sadly I have no answers for.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-83506761320236212182012-03-01T21:52:00.000+00:002012-03-01T21:52:12.101+00:00Bourne's Identity<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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For a while now I have seen books in the library by an
author called Sam Bourne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me it
always cried out as the type of books which I occasionally read, and mostly
enjoy, but somehow feel that I should be reading something meatier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sounds rather pompous I know, but it’s
not meant to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s more the fact that
a lot of those books are in fact very bad, and by reading them it almost feels
as if you are giving credence to the bad book industry.</div>
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Anyway, I recently found out, after listening to Radio 2’s
Drivetime show, that Sam Bourne is in fact Jonathan Freedland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a well know journalist in his own
right, his agent and publishers had decided that his thriller writing should
come out in another name because they were worried that the target audience for
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Ironically this was the reason why I had not previously read
any of his books, but quickly rushed out to get one from the library after I
had found out the truth; yes, perhaps I am a bit snobbish after all, and
certainly odd.</div>
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The book I have just read is called The Chosen One, not his
latest, and not his first either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
sits somewhere in the middle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But still,
it is very good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It starts off with a
brand new hope of a President (where have we heard that before?) having
recently taken office, but then two bombshells about him are broken within two
days...a third is posited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person
leaking this information is then found dead and the whole country is asking:
Was he silenced by the President?</div>
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The book is exciting and definitely a page turner (I read it
in just over a day), but also poses some intriguing questions. I won’t give
them away here since that would ruin the story, but take it from me that as
well as being a thriller it does have a meatier content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I will definitely be looking out for more
Sam Bourne books in future.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-11632158679214094202012-02-28T18:03:00.000+00:002012-02-28T18:03:12.445+00:00True Rubbish<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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Having heard good things about the recent version of True
Grit I recently watched it, only to discover it was yet another Coen Brothers
mess of pointless tripe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After The Big
Lebowski, No Country for Old Men and Burn After Reading, I should have learned;
evidently I have not.</div>
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It starts, like most of their films, interestingly enough,
with fourteen year old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) coming to claim the body
of her father who has been shot by one of his hired hands, and who has then ridden
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shows off her resourceful
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Sadly, although the set up is intriguing, the story is
pulled off badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The men are all hard
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annoying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it proves the fact that
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The book itself may be as pointless as the film, I don’t
know since I haven’t read it, but if it is then you wonder why it has been made
into a film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, then this would
have to be described as a poor rendition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I give it four out of ten, even taking into account the good performance
from Steinfeld.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-66778442831539791282012-02-26T18:29:00.000+00:002012-02-26T18:29:00.656+00:00Wednesday one, United didn't<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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The steel city derby at Hillsborough and my second bout of
nervousness for the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wednesday
came into it with three defeats out of the last three, while United had won
eleven of the last thirteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover
the Owls were five points behind the Blades in the league, having played two
games more; it was a must win game, with the manager’s job at stake too.</div>
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The first half was even, with Wednesday missing with two
headers and United going close with a free-kick that bounced down from the
crossbar.</div>
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and couldn’t put a move together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until
Wednesday went down the right, Buxton put in a perfect cross and Chris O’Grady
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The Blades may still be favourites to take the second
automatic promotion position, but they will know that the Owls are breathing
down their necks, and the slightest slip up will leave them ready to swoop.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-46715051220718431742012-02-26T17:27:00.000+00:002012-02-26T17:27:37.205+00:00Robbing against Lawes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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This weekend saw the middle weekend of the Six Nations rugby
tournament and a key match between England and Wales who were both unbeaten
from their first two games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know a
post about rugby may not mean much to any Swedish readers; however I do know
that you play rugby since one of my co-workers plays his weekend games
alongside the Swedish captain.</div>
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The game was at Twickenham, where Wales had not won since
1988, but on a clear sunny day they started the brightest, almost conjuring a
try from a well worked lineout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
continued to dominate the first quarter and even had the chance to score the
first points, until Leigh Halfpenny fluffed the penalty.</div>
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England, vastly improved from the World Cup with a new coach
and set of players, duly came back into it with some excellent passing moves
and strong forward play, and should have scored a try themselves but for an
excellent last ditch tackle and some good Welsh defending.</div>
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There followed a series of penalties back and forth, all
converted by England’s Owen Farrell (son of Rugby League’s Andy) and Halfpenny,
and England led 9-6 at half time.</div>
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England had won their previous two games with last minute
interceptions, and at the start of the second half it looked as if it would
continue to be a winning tactic, as first Rhys Priestland had his clearing kick,
right in front of his own posts, charged down and although England couldn’t
score the try, Priestland himself gave away a penalty for offside and found
himself in the sin bin for ten minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>England duly scored to lead 12-6 and Wales were down to fourteen.</div>
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Usually the side who are down a player will concede seven
points and last time the two met at Twickenham, Wales had a man sin binned and
they shipped seventeen. But here they played their best rugby of the
match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They kept possession, kept
England pinned in their own half and were rewarded with a penalty of their own
which Halfpenny slotted over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when
Priestland returned they had technically conceded no points at all.</div>
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It was easily the turning point of the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>England began bringing on their replacements,
much less experienced than the Welsh and Owen Farrell after missing a penalty
also found himself injured and had to leave the field himself following a great
performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly Wales found themselves
stronger and after relentless pressure earned themselves another penalty to
level the scores at 12-12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
eight minutes left.</div>
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For years this was where the Welsh weakened but they have
won tight matches already in this tournament and here they did again. England
were attacking, but Courtney Lawes was tackled and Scott Williams wrestled the
ball out of his grip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a smart kick
forward into acres of space behind England, he set off in chase.</div>
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Now, a rugby ball with its odd shape can bounce in all
directions but he got the luck he needed as it continued to bounce forwards but
in a slight curve too, evading the English defence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It jumped up perfectly into his arms and he
dived over the line, just by the posts, amid roars and strains of ‘Bread of
Heaven’.</div>
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Wales were ahead for the first time in the match, Halfpenny
converted and it was 19-12 with five minutes to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>England unsurprisingly counter-attacked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They moved the ball left and right, won
penalties on either wing, but they needed to score a try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then, as the clock wound down, it seemed
that they had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David Strettle had dived
over, surrounded by Welsh bodies and the referee called for the video replay.</div>
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The wait was agonising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Had he touched down or hadn’t he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would England have the chance to level the game with an unlikely Toby
Flood conversion from the right touchline?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the end the replays proved inconclusive, the ref blew the final
whistle and Wales had won.</div>
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They now have the chance to secure the championship and
Grand Slam if they can beat Italy and France in their final few games, but
England should be pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a
much more attacking, intelligent style of rugby than they have played for many
years, and come next year with some more experience, really will be the team to
beat.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-40824454748227105422012-02-24T18:28:00.000+00:002012-02-24T18:28:33.710+00:00The NegotiatorA couple of stories have come out over the past few days which show a ridiculous lack of British government ability to negotiate on behalf of the people.<br />
The first is with regards to extradition laws, which has been thrown up by a request by the US government over a man suspected of supplying weapons to Iran. I have no comment to make over whether the man is guilty or innocent since I know nothing of the full facts. However the problem is with the lack of equality with extradition between the two countries.<br />
If the US has a suspicion of guilt of a UK citizen then Britain has to extradite them. However for the opposite to happen then the UK courts have to provide very strong evidence before the US will agree to extradite to Britain. You have to wonder who negotiated this deal since it is so strongly in favour of the US. Are we really so bound to them in other ways that we have to give up British subjects on an American whim?<br />
The second story is more absurd than anything. In a London office used by MP's there are twelve fig trees in a room which provide shade for the occupants. The cost of maintenance of these fig trees is £30,000 per year. How is it possible that the price for keeping a dozen fig trees alive is £4,000 a year greater than the price for keeping one human being alive, housed and clothed (since the new cap for benefits will be £26,000)? Either the person who negotiated this was an idiot, or more likely could not give a fig for those who struggle within this country.<br />
I believe these deals were negotiated before the present government took office and are probably just the tip of the iceberg. Since the government can make any law they wish, is it not possible for them to renegotiate everything that does not benefit the greater good, or in their words, the big society?Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-73745541409993594782012-02-23T21:16:00.001+00:002012-02-23T21:16:40.879+00:00Not so revolutionaryThe latest film I watched was Revolutionary Road, the second of the Kate Winslet films which came out almost back to back, but this time she was paired with her Titanic co-star Leo DiCaprio.<br />
In this they play husband and wife living in the suburbs with two children. He works in a job he doesn't like, for a firm that his father spent years working for, while she stays at home failing to become an actress. The life they envisaged for themselves several years earlier hasn't quite materialised.<br />
One day it get's too much for Winslet's character and she reminds her husband of his previous dream of moving to Paris and after a short while he thinks its a great idea and they start to plan it. Except he's suddenly been offered a promotion and she gets pregnant and he calls the whole thing off.<br />
<br />
To me it was just another 'unhappy couple' film. I prefer films without some sort of moral, but on the other hand these films just feel somewhat pointless. I'm never quite sure whether to feel pity for the characters or nauseated by their whining. It would be impossible to set the film in the present day, since the pressure on people staying together in a marriage, happy or otherwise, isn't the same, and in some ways this is one of the films greatest pitfalls. A truly good film and story should be able to take place whether it is the present day or medieval times.<br />
As a plus, the acting is very good and some of the dialogue can be quite engrossing. The characters, for all their annoying traits, are somewhat believable, and there is a certain irony in the only person who actually makes sense being someone who is considered mentally ill.<br />
There are a few unanswered questions in terms of DiCaprio's relationship with the father he talks about, along with how they got to first meeting to the situation they are now in. There is never any evidence that there wasn't any alternative to it, but if life teaches you anything there are always alternatives. The ending also is somewhat predictable and depressing, and really makes you wonder what the film was trying to say, if anything at all.<br />
My rating is (raised mainly for the quality acting) is six and a half out of ten.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-26848201398134496292012-02-19T09:28:00.000+00:002012-02-19T09:28:25.478+00:00Seriously? Britain a Christian country?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
If he had one then I think Jesus would be turning in his
grave over the thought that Britain could be described as a Christian country.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Surely a basic requirement of such a soubriquet would be a
continual intention to help the poor and outcast members of society, just as
Jesus was supposed to have done himself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Conversely we live in a country where the vast majority of the land is
owned by the few and the vast majority of earnings are earned by the few, and
more importantly, all of this is kept by the few.</div>
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From my bible teachings I seem to remember Jesus was not the
most encouraging towards money lenders, and yet the British economy runs more
on money markets than anything else these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He also taught us to turn the other cheek, and yet in the last few years
we’ve started fighting wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, not to mention the
amount of weapons we sell to other countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is this really a Christian attitude?</div>
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Being able to call yourself a Christian country has nothing
to do with church attendance, whether you want to say prayers before council
meetings or even whether you believe in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is simply based on your actions, at whatever level of society you
live in, and judging by the actions of a large section of society you would be
hard pushed to call it Christian.</div>
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Since the introduction of the NHS, few governments have done
much to help the poor and the needy, and although we may have been a Christian
country back then, are we really a Christian country now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only does all this hyperbole smack of
hypocrisy, it also risks alienating an increasingly large majority of society
made up of different religions, as well as those who have none at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Britain is far far better off calling itself a secular
society, but with freedom of religion and would do well to look across to its
Scandinavian neighbours for inspiration.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-72813288029309827352012-02-13T22:12:00.000+00:002012-02-13T22:12:00.818+00:00The Reader<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I read The Reader a couple of years ago when the film came
out, but only recently received the film itself to watch. Pleasingly, it is faithful to the book with
key elements of the plot, and with actors like Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes
it is also a pleasure to watch. It is
such a shame that they only have one small scene together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story itself concerns a young German boy just after the
war, who through a bout of fever meets an older German woman with whom he has
an affair. When she suddenly vanishes he
is distraught. However he sees her again
several years later, but in a courtroom where he discovers that she is a former
SS guard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I won’t give any more of the plot away if you have not read
or seen it, since it is worth enjoying the story as it’s meant to be
enjoyed. Not that it is necessarily
enjoyable, it is actually quite a sad story, and one that stays in the mind for
several hours afterwards. The sign, I
think, of a good story.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The themes within the story are also quite powerful, too
powerful for me to really discuss here in any way that would do them
justice. I think you should see the film
for yourself and make your own conclusions, or even better, read the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for the film it was excellent, with only two small points
of contention in that there was more sex than strictly necessary to the plot,
and the film itself was slightly over long.
All in all 8 out of 10.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-15155404097604746562012-02-12T22:01:00.002+00:002012-02-12T22:01:34.762+00:00Experimentation in Dessert<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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With Valentine’s Day on a Tuesday this year it was agreed to
celebrate at the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore,
with my fiancee working yesterday, it was the perfect chance for me to get
creating with a dessert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dessert
completely made up.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The base is a scone pastry (without baking powder which I
inextricably forgot) but rolled very thin before being baked in the oven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I broke this up into pieces before arranging
it in the bowls so that it still resembled a ‘cup’ shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span> </span></div>
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After washing some blueberries, I cooked them with a little
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</span>This I poured over the pastry and chilled it for a while in order to get
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chocolate mixture over the top, which I then chilled for several hours</div>
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.</div>
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Finally, when we were ready to eat it, I whipped some cream
and it was finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ta da!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlHeNPBcidrS_zYXJMZTHVxj-Ebtr-YaHcjvDD_r26THL3_zuHdwSfK0svojcpBA0x9V17rIGhQUKBon0dE1FIOzY7ndxET0vhBwa_1HssHp9hFL-TfE3Gbt5UNNa0gzstsE0CyZg7t1O/s1600/P8250018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlHeNPBcidrS_zYXJMZTHVxj-Ebtr-YaHcjvDD_r26THL3_zuHdwSfK0svojcpBA0x9V17rIGhQUKBon0dE1FIOzY7ndxET0vhBwa_1HssHp9hFL-TfE3Gbt5UNNa0gzstsE0CyZg7t1O/s400/P8250018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkCgxs2H9hUZNfaCyspdp-wJMAe4DRS0kTS4F86TOwvK8elblvlqaFMDffbdUQC86SI5liiss4AFfThHNk8N7hjd7rfvkbARHKLi_keWtqRvu3c-MG8ugWoh6SUXV1FEm0NWQL09h09nH/s1600/P8250020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkCgxs2H9hUZNfaCyspdp-wJMAe4DRS0kTS4F86TOwvK8elblvlqaFMDffbdUQC86SI5liiss4AFfThHNk8N7hjd7rfvkbARHKLi_keWtqRvu3c-MG8ugWoh6SUXV1FEm0NWQL09h09nH/s400/P8250020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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In hindsight the pastry wasn’t quite the right thing really,
although it might have been tastier if I had remembered the baking powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A biscuitcrumb base, a la a traditional
cheesecake would have been much better, and I may attempt this in the
future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chocolate mousse was
delicious however.
</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-4979836180149076632012-02-09T21:22:00.000+00:002012-02-09T21:22:23.017+00:00Weirdos, Royal Weirdos and TMSLast week I visited Glastonbury for the first time in my life, a town famous for its history, folklore, legend and of course hippies. No visit is complete without a walk up the Tor, tor being an old word for hill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
At the top of the Tor is a stone tower of the former St Michaels Church, which itself was a replacement for another church which stood here in the middle ages. As you can see, there is not much left of even the tower now.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK0kavi1Z-tYVo3d7tPEu5hKSHjOX_QKSWaNfFOkTfJJN3lHmi9tPAUfKUQteT2RJ0_2idE-MUd-8MJiclY0yaN0kerS3uci5GwvXSjzyyOkKsT7CzZ7AbrTEXH8Bv5NBM-i1QzYJGXF0/s1600/P8150010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNK0kavi1Z-tYVo3d7tPEu5hKSHjOX_QKSWaNfFOkTfJJN3lHmi9tPAUfKUQteT2RJ0_2idE-MUd-8MJiclY0yaN0kerS3uci5GwvXSjzyyOkKsT7CzZ7AbrTEXH8Bv5NBM-i1QzYJGXF0/s400/P8150010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
It was a beautifully bright day, although bitterly cold with a strong buffeting wind, and you could see a long way. Apparently you can see three counties from up here.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RiIOrJtYpVPAF_1aW4v4EYiiA1NVTLnh5OrQq-mpL25wXZQWv9B_9X7MTrbosCnq-uT6CYTcv1s-uah_myrqUBWBdAAY41dzUCAvLN1i6Qu8ofMCRlIx5NhKI8GmGuivyIoS3EiaHNB2/s1600/P8150006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RiIOrJtYpVPAF_1aW4v4EYiiA1NVTLnh5OrQq-mpL25wXZQWv9B_9X7MTrbosCnq-uT6CYTcv1s-uah_myrqUBWBdAAY41dzUCAvLN1i6Qu8ofMCRlIx5NhKI8GmGuivyIoS3EiaHNB2/s400/P8150006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There is said to be a leyline passing over Glastonbury Tor, running all the way from St Michaels Mount in Cornwall and going on up to Stonehenge, not only this but the contours of nearby hills and countryside are also supposed to represent signs of the zodiac. If that wasn't enough there is the legend of King Arthur and of Joseph of Arimathea connected to the place.<br />
Not that you see much evidence referring to the legends as you walk through the town; Here instead are plenty of bookshops and cafe's with names referencing faeries, virgins and the green man. One cafe asked hippies to use the side entrance! Scattered about are also plenty of people offering healing skills and fortune telling, while long beards, wild clothes and wooden staffs are commonplace. A strange, ethereal place indeed.<br />
<br />
Changing tack completely, there was a news story out today proving once and for all why Prince Charles should not in any way become King. I have spoken before about my dislike of the Royal Family, nothing to do with their probable personalities since they are probably somewhat nice people in general, but more because of what they stand for. This news story did nothing more for me than confirm my instincts.<br />
It seems that the Duchy of Cornwall (the Prince's main source of income) has rights to mine for minerals which stretches back over hundreds of years. However, some sort of law required all such rights to be formally claimed via the land registry in order for such rights to be kept, and this is just what the Duchy have done. Fine in principle, except for the fact that this land under which the Prince has rights has houses built on it and people living in them.<br />
Despite the fact that the Duchy has claimed that it does not have any intention of using these rights, they will still appear upon the deeds of the properties and in all likelihood will reduce their value. When the present owners bought their houses, no register search brought up the possibility of such rights.<br />
Now, you may argue that the since the Prince has these rights then it be fair that he registers them, but if the Duchy has no intention of using them, why bother? It doesn't benefit him or anybody else, conversely it hurts the owners of these properties. In this way Prince Charles has shown that he has absolutely no empathy for the subjects that he will one day rule and in all likelihood sees it as normal to Lord himself over us all.<br />
<br />
Once more I change tack completely, this time to something a little nicer, the subject of Test Match Special. Recently I mentioned having bought a book by Jonathan Agnew, called 'Thanks Johnners', and I have just finished reading it. What a delight it was to read! Wonderful anecdotes about the various characters who have appeared on TMS, along with Aggers former playing days and early broadcasting days, pranks and practical jokes and all. Along with that unforgetable 'leg over' incident. I have to say 'Thanks Aggers' for bringing a cricket themed smile to my face so soon after Englands travesties in the middle east.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-26075344652617230032012-02-05T07:07:00.000+00:002012-02-05T07:07:14.850+00:00When I Woke Before<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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It used to
be that I would wake</div>
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Early just
for Christmas Day</div>
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When I’d
jump out of bed and take</div>
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My stocking
into my parent’s room</div>
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Now it is
because I ache</div>
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In shoulder,
sometimes leg cramps too</div>
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To get up,
shopping list to make</div>
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And wash up all
last night’s dishes.</div>
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<br /></div>
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When I was
young I’d get up to see</div>
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If there
were any wrapped up gifts</div>
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Sitting
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And check
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But now it’s
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Either from
cold or not taking advice</div>
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Over having
that last cup of tea</div>
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And my
bladder tickles me awake.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As a kid it
would be the dark</div>
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That would
have my eyes open in terror</div>
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Attack by
ghosts, swallowed by a shark</div>
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Dreams of
fertile imagination</div>
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And now it
must be a mark</div>
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A sign of
age, my youth lost</div>
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To be awake
with the dawn, the lark</div>
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Singing my
worst nightmare to me.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-19419590929614622812012-02-04T21:07:00.000+00:002012-02-04T21:07:46.918+00:00A Midsummer Night's AppartmentI recently watched the film L'Appartement. I have to say that it is very bizarre, but also funny, enigmatic, and entertaining.<br />
There really are too many plots for me to fully understand, let alone write down in a short blog post, but in brief it follows the fortunes of Max (Vincent Cassell) after he catches a brief glimpse of a former love, Lisa (Monica Belluci), who left him without saying why. You find out the relationship in flashbacks, alongside him trying to track her down, but then further flashbacks provide more of the truth about them as well as the people around them. In the end they all begin to wonder who it is they actually love, and the viewer does too.<br />
As the film progresses, you find two of the main characters as actresses in a production of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which provides a clue as to some obvious inspiration. In the play, through the use of magic, the pair of lovers swap allegencies as to whom they love, however it is through other means within the film that this takes place.<br />
The intriguing thing about the film is that the ending provides no real commentary or consequence on the actions of the characters involved and how they have behaved; there is something typically French about this and usually alien to US film-making where the 'good guy' always triumphs over the 'bad guy' and there are morals to be learned.<br />
Additionally it seems that the film Wicker Park is a US remake of this film, however the two reasons of it being a US remake and the poor cast mean that it is unlikely that I will watch it.<br />
For L'Appartement 8 out of 10.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-82551370606172577762012-01-29T17:49:00.000+00:002012-01-29T17:49:24.980+00:00Back to 1991I don't know how many of you have been listening to 'Sounds of the 20th Century' over the past few months. It is a Radio 2 show broadcast on a Thursday at 10pm, and simply plays music, news, sports reports, films etc for an hour from a particular year. It must have started around ten months ago now since they started at 1950 and have now reached 1992.<br />
I've enjoyed listening to it since it's nice to hear history at first hand so to speak, rather than having it already digested by an 'expert', or even worse, getting it through the memory of a member of your family. Plus the last few have brought back my own memories of various times and places, 1991 being one of them.<br />
This was the year that Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves came out, a film which I saw at the cinema in Edinburgh with my parents, and I absolutely loved it. When it came out on TV I recorded it onto video and watched it so so often that the video started to get a bit crackly.<br />
When my fiancee and I heard a clip of it the other week it was suggested that it be added to our Blockbuster list (of dvd's)...instead I went and bought it and we watched it last Friday. I was still amazed as to how much of the dialogue I could remember, and there are so many little bits to it that are cheesy, funny, exciting and thrilling, that it's still a joy to watch.<br />
The other most interesting thing to happen in 1991 was the 'leg over' incident between Jonathan Agnew and Brian Johnstone on TMS. It's one of those moments that you can't help smiling or laughing at every time you hear it; it's just wonderful. And ironically when I was in Waterstones recently I was flicking through their bargain bin and I came across a book called 'Thanks Johnners' by Jonathan Agnew, quite recently published it seems, and a lot to do with Brian Johnstone and TMS (I haven't read it yet). But the amazing thing was that it was signed by JA, and it was only 99p...a bargain I couldn't turn down.<br />
I can't wait for 1993, the year of 'that ball' from Shane Warne, and of course Jurassic Park!Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-50718124675657570092012-01-24T21:29:00.000+00:002012-01-24T21:29:37.758+00:00Capping ItI'm risking going a bit political today, and yet I'm still trying to see both sides. The new benefits cap which the government plan to bring in seem, on the face of it, quite sensible. It is quite ridiculous to have situations where people are being given up to £80k a year for doing nothing while most ordinary people wouldn't earn that in four years. However, this isn't the case for most people and just one of those stories that the media like to bandy around as if it's the norm. Most people still struggle on what benefits they get. And in some way there should also be an incentive to work, which sadly people need in the UK since there is very little 'work ethic'.<br />
Then again, for someone who works hard and is in a good job, only to find themselves unemployed because of the economic climate, to have their benefits capped at just £26k for a whole year might see themselves and their family out of a home within nine months if luck doesn't come their way. After all a lot of life is about luck, not just hard work. But then you have the realm of one rule for some and another rule for others, and that cannot work realistically either.<br />
The real deeprooted problem is that the only likely place for work is London. Jobs therefore need to be spread around the country more easily, and much much more of them must be created. Then of course housing has to be considered. There is still far too little housing and far too high a cost, so landlords must be given some sort of incentive to charge lower rents. Finally the costs of transport, and daycare for children, can be prohibitive for a lot of people, so these need to be addressed too.<br />
The problem with all this is that it would take a long time to sort out, probably a similar length of time that the problems have been escalating for (roughly 40 years) and no government is ever going to be in for that long. Therefore, sadly, a simple benefit cap is the only way forward for them. And after all that, I'm still not sure where I stand, so here's a poem inspired by it all instead, called "Caps".<br />
<br />
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They give
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Expecting us
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all go bare</div>
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That it’s
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<br />Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2974347937387454259.post-49913512258557300832012-01-22T22:13:00.001+00:002012-01-22T22:14:39.416+00:00QuietlyNot much to blog about this week.<br />
Disappointments in the sporting world with Sheffield Weds losing their unbeaten run at home, followed by losing a last minute goal to get only a draw this week. Then the England cricket team's shambolic batting in Dubai against the Pakistan spinners - they'd do well to get a draw out of that series.<br />
Regarding the wedding, we've been slowly working on the invitations in order to try to get them out by the end of the month. Realistically there is not much we have to do for a while as it is several months away.<br />
I do have more time off in a week's time however, when hopefully we may be able to get out for another walk, or at least later in the week I will be visiting Somerset and may be able to get walking there, weather permitting. One thing that we do plan is to visit Glastonbury and perhaps get up to the Tor. If you believe some, it runs along a ley line, and so it will be intriguing to see if there is anything to 'feel'. I'm prepared to keep an open mind.Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15584276804376448587noreply@blogger.com0