growzones

Moira+Gareth+Alan+I joined Niall in his garden this morning on the first of this year’s Growzone Saturdays - essentially, getting people together to grow (and eat!) local food along permaculture principals. I’m NOT a gardener, but even I found last year’s sessions hugely enjoyable – and educational. Today was another really good morning – starting at 9am and finishing just after 12 noon (with a brief stop for coffee and biscuits), then a delicious shared lunch together. An amazing amount of work was completed in three hours: with old suitcases being used to plant out potatoes and a previously-felled apple tree cleared and cut up (ready for making charcoal).
Photos: suitcase planters; coffee break and some of the neatly-stacked bits of wood.

richard holloway: festival of ideas

At Gareth+Alan’s suggestion, Moira+I joined them at the 2010 Louis Sherwood Memorial Lecture given by Richard Holloway as part of the “Festival of Ideas” at @bristol on Wednesday. It proved to be a hugely impressive and absolutely fascinating evening. Holloway was formerly Bishop of Edinburgh, but his interests and knowledge cover a massive range of things (from chair of the BMA Steering Group on Ethics and Genetics to chair of the Scottish Arts Council). His talk was on “Disloyalty” and explored the role of disloyalty in the creative arts (and also suggested that this was also an important virtue in religion): the disloyal mind refusing to conform to existing norms and allowing new values and understandings to come in from the future. He talked for about 45 minutes and touched upon the work of writers, artists, architects and then answered questions from the floor – with amazing insight and imagination. He was hugely impressive (extremely well-read, but practical at the same time). I’ve just checked and it seems that Holloway is 77 years old – but with the mind of a twentysomething intellectual. His talk ranged from Graham Greene to Nietzsche, from art to religion and much much more. These are a few of the things I scribbled down from his talk: “the artist’s disloyalty is the queen of virtue”; “loyalty confines us to accepted opinions”; “radicals create culture, conservatives defend it”; “the tragedy of many lives is that they stop being creative”; and “every great progress must be preceded by something that makes it weaker”.

A wonderfully stimulating evening.

gasworks choir at st george’s

Moira, Alan, Iona+I went along to St George’s in Bristol last night to listen/see the Gasworks Choir in action again (and Gareth singing too, obviously). They’re a community choir. There’s a long waiting list to join, but no auditions. They learn by listening, not by reading music. They’re about 150 strong and they all wear orange, red or pink and they make an amazing sound. It reminded me of a blog I wrote at the start of last year after hearing Brian Eno extol the virtues of singing.
Well, he just could be right; their enthusiasm and energy is infectious.

Photo: just a few members of last night's choir (they were about to launch into a "swimming" song!).

a week is a long time in politics....

My great friend Ian has written an interesting piece on his blog this week entitled “emerging politics” about cross-party partnerships – calling for peace-makers and consensus-builders rather than those choosing the adversarial approach. I’m still trying to get my head around the the LibCon (as I’ve seen the Government referred to a couple of times this week!) coalition agreement and also the forthcoming election of a new leader of the Labour Party.
I have to admit that (if I try REALLY hard to ignore the fact that the Tories are now in charge!) I’ve found the spirit of co-operation between the coalition partners rather refreshing thus far. Of course, this is just the honeymoon period and, no doubt, as soon as we get back to Westminster (on Tuesday, I think) it’ll be back to the usual yah-boo stuff (and, of course, the media will be doing its utmost to find a chink in the coalition’s armoury)…. and there’ll no doubt be some bad blood between Labour and the Lib-Dems (along the “vote Lib-Dem, get Tories” line)…. although I very much hope not.
The fact remains, of course (and I appreciate that this is absolutely inevitable – especially with a hung-parliament), that I - along with hundreds of thousands of others - am left saying: “if I’d have known it was going to end like this, I would never have voted like I did” (not that it made a scrap of difference in our constituency)! I DID expect a hung-parliament and I voted Lib-Dem on the basis that a) the Lib-Dems would achieve something approaching a 30% share of the votes, and b) Labour and the Lib-Dems would make up the new government and come up with some sort of coalition agreement (with a commitment to a DECENT PR system). By dawn on 7 May, it became pretty clear that the figures meant that this was never going to work – because the Lib-Dems hadn’t won anything like the number of seats most people had anticipated – and that a LibCon coalition was suddenly a distinct possibility.
Nick Clegg is now saying that “there was no other responsible way to play the hand dealt to the political parties by the British people”. What he MIGHT have said was “I realised that an early general election re-run would be political suicide for the Lib-Dems, so teaming up with the Tories was our only way out”.
I REALLY didn’t anticipate that the Lib-Dems (who, in many ways, are left of the Labour Party these days) would ever team up with the Conservatives. I feel cheated. Ho hum!
Other thoughts from the week:
1. I’m not opposed to fixed term parliaments, but I AM very suspicious of the new 55% rule (which I think the Lib-Dems had pressed for?). A simple majority of 50% plus one on a “no confidence” vote will no longer immediately trigger a prime ministerial resignation or an immediate general election.
2. The electorate clearly voted for “change”, but I’m left pondering if it would all have been different if Labour had opted for a new leader say six months ago – someone with new ideas to drive the party forward and to drop some of its albatrosses?
3. I feel really guilty that I didn’t participate in the “Where’s My Vote?” rally at College Green in Bristol yesterday – pressing for electoral reform.
4. As far as a new Labour leader is concerned, I’m pleased that Ed Miliband has entered the fray (I thought he was an excellent Energy Minister); I’m really not sure about David Miliband – touted by many as being a brilliant and obvious “next leader”; Jon Cruddas would be a good deputy leader; but I have a horrible feeling that Ed Balls will be the ultimate victor (perhaps because support for the Milibands had been split?). I’m trying to ignore this possibility for the time being – SURELY they wouldn’t, would they?

humbling

I know I’ve moaned a few times about the attitudes of some parents in my day-to-day experience at school. I’m also only too well aware of the frustrations of all those who work in education but, just occasionally, you experience unexpected rewards. Today, I received a letter from the father of a Year 11 girl, who was about to leave school after completing her GCSEs. The letter (which was also addressed to my colleagues Kate and Karin) conveyed his appreciation for keeping his daughter “on track”. This is just an extract: “I can still remember specifically when you brought to my attention concerns for (my daughter), concerns which I was equally having. I think that meeting really built the foundation for (my daughter) and now some three years later she is certainly in a “better place”. (Her) improved performance has really made me feel proud for her and I have to say it’s also because of the professionalism demonstrated by yourself Steve, and superbly aided by Kate and Karin. Your direct involvements as a team and individually have done so much good for her that I will always be respectful and appreciative of the efforts by you”.
When I’m feeling depressed and disillusioned by the world of education, I’ll read this father’s letter and it’ll remind me of the small, but perhaps vital, contributions that teachers and also-rans like me can make to the lives of some children and the fact that our work is sometimes appreciated.
Humbling stuff.
Photo: this is a picture of Iris and Stu – I know it really doesn’t have anything to do with this post, EXCEPT that it’s a strong image of a special relationship between a father and daughter.

government

An amazing day in the life of British politics (well for the media at least). It seemed, to me, to be almost inevitable that we’d end up with a Con/Lib-Dem coalition government – I’d predicted this on facebook at 6am last Friday! Even though a Lab/Lib-Dem coalition was a possibility, this was also dependent on the support of the odd “other” parties, which was clearly going to be somewhat complicated. For the Lib-Dems, this is a hugely important time – an almost once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the party to make its mark (despite the multitude of its supporters who will be devastated by the prospect of them cosying up to the Tories). For the Conservatives, at least it means the end of a Labour government after 13 years; its supporters will be relieved, but also still very disappointed (and maybe very disillusioned?) after being unable to win an overall majority from what seemed, at one point, to be an impregnable position. Will the party be able to justify the “risk” of a coalition? Ironically, it seems to me that the winners in the long-term might well be the Labour Party – it gives them a chance to re-group under a new leader (as long as his name isn’t Ed Balls!).
What odds on another General Election within the next 12 months?

southbank arts trail

We participated in the Southbank Arts Trail again over the weekend (the seventh consecutive year for us). It was all very enjoyable as usual, if a little exhausting. It was very good having Jen, Sarah and Angela joining us for the weekend – they were all excellent value! The weather was pretty kind too (a little drizzle yesterday but otherwise dry). Lots of people as usual (we usually reckon on about 500 over the weekend) – spread pretty evenly over both days – together with “normal” preview evening on Friday, which was great fun…. and the art was pretty good too!
Photo: two of the number40 exhibition-goers.

number40

We’ve decided to change our number40 website to a wordpress format to enable easier, and more regular, updating by us all (Ruth, Hannah, Stuart, Moira and me). Our good friend Bob Jones has once again helped us to put our stuff together (he also helped us with the old website). The new site is: http://number40.net and, as well as providing information about us and our art, it also includes a blog page which outlines some of the things we’re involved with at the moment – and which will, hopefully(!), be updated on a pretty regular basis.
Please check it out!
Photo: number40 logo.

kielder challenge 2010

This week, four pupils from our school plus four pupils from Fosse Way School (a very special catering for young people with physical disabilities and/or severe learning difficulties), teamed together for one of the Fieldfare Kielder Challenge Regional Heats in Poole - a national outdoor adventure event and competition which has run for over 20 years. The team were brilliant. Regional winners go forward to the national finals in the Kielder Forest, Northumberland in September. In the end, it was incredibly close and they ended up just SIX points behind last year's National Winners (342 points to our 336!) - beating the winners of last year's Plate Final in the process. As things stand (there are still a number of heats taking place over the next couple of weeks), they are the second-placed team in the whole of the Southern Region.

This is the fourth year I’ve helped with this event and it remains one of the most rewarding and humbling activities of my time in education.

Photo: the team in action (Lauren, Scott, Dean, Will, Josh, Owen plus Charlotte and Kitty).

facebook

This is a bit of a test. I’ve noticed that my recent blog notes are no longer automatically making it on to my facebook profile. I think it might be something to do with the fact that I’ve recently changed over to using Firefox in lieu of Internet Explorer. However, I’ve been finding it impossible to get my blog notes to be accepted by Firefox, for some reason (as you might know, I’m not very good with technology!), so have been resorting to posting via Internet Explorer.

I’ll try once again to post via Firefox… here goes!

Photo: the image is just a random aquarium pic for test purposes.

southbank arts trail

It’s that time of year again…. the SouthBank Bristol Arts Trail is almost upon us (and I’ve still got to sort out my work!). We’ve got eight artists exhibiting in our basement at number40:
Angela Saxbee (digital art+photography), Sarah Duncan (painting), Jen Orme (ceramics+jewellery) plus the usual family members Hannah (illustration), Ruth (drawing+textiles), Stuart (painting+glass), Moira (textiles) and me (photography+drawing). The Arts Trail is happening Saturday+Sunday 8+9 May 11am-6pm, plus a preview on Friday 7 May from 7pm.
It should be very good!

uk leaders' debate2

I’d only listened to about half of the first debate on the radio, so last night was my first proper opportunity to assess our aspiring future leaders. I have to say that I was very impressed by the overall quality of the debate and by all three politicians (although I did think Sky TV’s Adam Boulton came across as a somewhat inept moderator/chairman). There’s one thing being able to present a prepared argument, but coming up with “instant” and effective responses is a real skill to be admired and I felt that all three leaders scored highly on this. I purposely scribbled down my gut reactions to the debate while the helicopters were still in the sky (we live less than a mile away from where last night’s debate took place) and before seeing or hearing the media’s “take” on the evening: Cameron was good – but didn’t across as well as I thought he would; I rather feared that the knives would really be out for Clegg (and they were to a degree) – but actually felt he had an excellent evening; the big surprise for me was Brown – I thought he came over as the “experienced statesman” and that he spoke with real authority. Last time, one of the Polls indicated Clegg as being the most impressive at 51%, with Cameron on 29% and Brown on 19% (and another 43%, 26% and 20% respectively).

I suspect that the Polls after last night’s debate will be somewhat closer.

the tempest

Moira, Ruth, Gareth, Alan, Lal, Chris, Liz, Mike and I spent another very enjoyable evening at the Tobacco Factory last night to see Andrew Hilton’s stylish production of “The Tempest”. Another full house. Hugely impressive once again (although perhaps not quite up to the heights of the earlier Midsummer Night’s Dream). Some excellent performances – notably Ian Barritt’s Prospero (with his piercing stare!) and Christopher Staines’s Ariel/Caliban, with Chris Donnelly (Stephano) and Felix (Trinculo) making excellent drunkards (“riotous fun” according to Sam Marlowe in The Times).
Live performance is very good for the soul!

yet more eating+drinking with friends….

Our wonderful weekend was rounded off perfectly when we all met up with yet more lovely friends (Gail+Ian) at the Winking Prawn, Salcombe for lunch.
Photo (left to right): Jez, Mags, Rob, Anna, Ian, Moira+Gail (note: the guy with his back to the camera was nothing to do with us!).

easter break

The fortnight break at Easter is definitely my favourite “school holiday” (apart from the somewhat longer summer break perhaps!). It provides sufficient time to “catch one’s breath”, to deal with outstanding jobs (in theory), but also to find time to relax, to potter and to reflect. However, this holiday was also a little strange - with Moira having just retired, she chose to take the past week (well, Sunday to Friday morning) on retreat at Sheldon Centre near Exeter. Despite not having me around(?), she clearly spent a very enjoyable, relaxing time in a beautiful location and with excellent weather.
I collected her first thing on Friday morning and we drove to Princetown for coffee before walking across a small section of Dartmoor to Nun’s Cross. In the afternoon, we spent some time at Buckland Abbey before travelling on to spend the weekend with our lovely friends Jez+Mags at Goveton, near Kingsbridge.
Really enjoyed our time with J+M (as always)… the weather was beautiful and we ambled through the streets on Salcombe and along the beach at Thurlestone. Relaxing with great mates over fine food and good wine and in such a beautiful location – you just can’t beat it!

Photo: I also enjoyed sitting in the conservatory on my own first thing each morning (listening to Ludouico Einaudi) and gazing across the fields to the horizon on the opposite side of the valley. This was the view....

more books

Without a shadow of doubt, the last nine months or so have seen me read more books than at any other time in my life… which obviously says an awful lot about my past reading habits!
I’ve found the experience hugely pleasurable. Latest books include:
The Other Side of the Bridge (Mary Lawson): Set in Northern Ontario, it follows the lives of a handful of people from a remote town amid wilderness and farming land. It’s essentially a story of decency – and it’s beautifully told.
The Other Hand (Chris Cleave): The book cover says “Once you have read it, you’ll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don’t tell them what happens… The magic is in how it unfolds”. Pretty melodramatic perhaps (and somewhat over the top methinks!)? I’ll just say it’s about immigration, globalisation, political violence and personal accountability…. and I couldn’t put it down.
Letters Home (Fergal Keane): I’ve just re-read this. Keane is a real hero of mine and I find his writing style absolutely compelling. He writes with amazing economy and in such an evocative way. It’s a collection of essays: “from close to home”; “from a European war”; “from Ireland”; “from a drifting continent”; and “from elsewhere”. Just beautifully eloquent.
How to be Good (Nick Hornby): Hornby is one of my favourite authors… he’s clever and he makes me laugh! Actually, I have to say I was a little disappointed by this one – just too contrived for my liking, despite some wonderful dialogue and observations.
Dreams from My Father (Barack Obama): Despite the fact that Obama is another of my heroes, I’d resisted the temptation to buy a copy - on the basis that it would just be another opportunity for a politician to bang on about their own personal manifesto. However, Moira urged me to read it (and she NEVER reads autobiographies!). She was absolutely right… it’s quite brilliant – although, with our own impending General Election, I fear that it will just reinforce my scepticism about the quality of most of the key political players on this side of the pond! It was written in 1995 and tells of his childhood, his time spent as a “community organiser” in Chicago and, finally, his travels to Kenya. A truly wonderful, impressive book (and now he’s even more of a hero!).
PS: also great that the book includes a mention of the time he spent with our lovely friends Ewan+Mo Wilkinson (referred to as “Wilkerson” in the book!) during his stay in Kenya. How about that!!

buckley boys (and girl!)

Moira+I returned home yesterday evening after spending a lovely couple of days in Lancashire with Alice+Dave+Mikey+Dan. Great to see everyone again - all the boys were in very good form (apart from a blip from Dave when Man U lost!) and Alice was looking fit+well in her final couple of months of pregnancy. Dan was very pleased to have another footballer around to play with (not Moira!) and we were very impressed with Mikey’s brilliant table manners!
Had a very enjoyable afternoon at Sea World in Blackpool. I spent most of my childhood holidays at Blackpool, but couldn’t quite believe just how incredibly tacky the place had now become (or maybe it was ALWAYS like that and I just didn’t notice?). But nevermind, “Sea World” (or whatever it was called) was excellent and Mikey, in particular, was completely mesmerised by some of the fish and spent a considerable amount of his time standing on a footbridge looking down on them as they clocked up the laps of their tank.
Very good to have some chill time with them all.
Photo: Moira, Dan+Mikey on “Mikey’s Bridge” at Sea World.

“e” is for easter… and eating.

The Broadway family Easter eating frenzy continued yesterday. Hannah+Fee+Ruth+Stu+Iris+Rosa joined us for a roast pork lunch at our house (well, Han had a veggie version!), followed by various cheeses, amoretti biscuits and Felix’s wonderful homemade cakes (left over after his mother’s birthday celebrations the day before).
A really lovely afternoon.
Earlier in the day Moira+I had gone to St Mary Redcliffe’s for the Easter service – which proved to be excellent (and it’s such a beautiful building). But, actually, the highlight for us was going up for communion while the wonderful choir were singing Handel’s Halleluiah Chorus at full blast.
A truly exhilarating experience.
Photo: Felix’s cakes!

good friday breakfast

Moira+I joined Hannah+Fee for a scrummy breakfast yesterday at Ruth+Stu’s. Entertainment was duly provided by Iris+Rosa (actually, mainly Iris as Rosa slept for some of the time!). After our delicious food, Iris insisted on reading/showing us all stories the way they do in the local library followed by us singing our favourite songs (…. the way they also do in the local library!). We even had dancing around the May Pole, complete with coloured ribbons and me as the pole (a little early perhaps, but it’s always best to be prepared)!
It made for a very enjoyable start to the holiday.
Photo: Iris at the breakfast table, complete with plaits – courtesy of Hannah.

to oxford for lunch

Moira+I spent a lovely time in Oxford yesterday having lunch with great friends Debby, Ken and Ian (Gail was recuperating at home after her hospital ordeals earlier in the week – very sad she wasn’t able to be with us, but wonderful that the prognosis seems to be very positive). We travelled up on the train, met up with the others for coffee at the Jam Factory where we were hugely impressed by the Stillpoint “Stations of the Cross” exhibition. Then on to Quod for lunch and on to Patisserie Valerie for some amazing desserts! The sun shone, Oxford looked beautiful (despite the fact they were digging up the High Street!), the company was perfect and the trains ran on time (more or less!).
A perfect Saturday!
Photo: Ian, Moira, Ken+Debby pondering the menu at Quod.

three musketeers

I received this photograph today via e-mail from my cousin David.
It shows (from left to right) my two cousins, Keith and David, and me.
It was taken in my grandparent’s back garden (Walkers) next to their garage.
I think it was taken in about 1957 (because Keith and his parents emigrated to Australia shortly afterwards). I would have been eight.
This picture confirms my childhood memories – it was ALWAYS sunny; there were ALWAYS blue skies; and jumpers hadn’t yet been invented.
Those were the days!

bomb disposal probably isn't for me

I listened to a powerful, humbling interview yesterday on Radio4’s “Saturday Live” when Chris Hunter talked about his former life as a bomb disposal operator (you can listen to it on iPlayer, albeit briefly). Amazing to hear him talk about his role almost acting as a “form of atonement” and also about its “spiritual” side, but also sad to hear about the effect his job had on his personal life. I just can’t imagine what makes people opt for such a hugely challenging and dangerous role (and it’s terribly sad that they need to do so at all).
Co-incidentally, I recently came across this very funny T-shirt slogan: “if at first you don’t succeed, then bomb disposal probably isn’t for you”.
So true!

eddie izzard marathon man

Hannah told me to watch this TV programme. I’m so pleased I followed her advice. As you might already be aware, the programme (it’s a series of three) is about Izzard’s quest to run 43 marathons in 51 days around Britain in aid of Sports Relief. It’s a ridiculous adventure – he isn’t an athlete, he’s never run ONE marathon let alone 43 and he gives himself just 6 weeks to prepare! If you haven’t already seen the series, I think you should (via iPlayer). It’s stirring stuff – fascinating, poignant and funny.
Be inspired!
PS: the final episode is being shown again tonight on BBC3 at 9pm.

moira’s “big” birthday festival

It was a lovely weekend – culminating in a gathering of wonderful friends at home yesterday, with the odd glass of wine and fantastic food prepared by Ruth, Hannah and Alice… and just a time to relax, laugh, chat and catch up with special people. Moira felt very loved and blessed.
Very good times.
Photo: Moira and daughters Alice, Ruth and Hannah.

midsummer night’s dream at the tobacco factory theatre

Moira, Sheila, Alice+I went to see this last night.
The glowing reviews were absolutely right about the play AND about Felix’s performance!
Just brilliant, magical theatre.

dear mrs parent

I refer to our meeting before school yesterday morning, when you demanded to see me as a matter of “extreme urgency” regarding a bullying issue involving your daughter. You will recall that you explained, in abrupt and confrontational terms, that your daughter had been verbally abused by the older sister of a fellow pupil while out shopping after school (and apparently in front of the girl’s mother). You indicated that the girl had been accusing your daughter of bullying her sister. You also explained that you had later confronted (in no uncertain terms, it appears) this girl’s parents to complain about the incident (you might be surprised to learn that the parents subsequently came to school to complain about your own behaviour). You are quite right, of course: it was entirely unacceptable for the older sister to have acted in the way she did.
However, I would like to make the following observations:
- I take exception to being accused of “doing nothing” to address what you regarded as long-term bullying issues when, having checked our files, the last minor incident was reported and dealt with on 5 November last year. We can only respond to situations that are reported to us.
- I take exception to your assumption that the “school was doing nothing” about the current matter (typical Year 8 bickering/friendship issues) when, in fact, we had spoken to a number of pupils, checked with teaching staff, issued warnings, had established monitoring arrangements and were in the process of recommending particular strategies for their shared lessons.
- I take exception to the fact that you had clearly not bothered to find out the background to the matter (as far as you were concerned, your daughter was entirely innocent).
- I take exception to the fact that you clearly felt you had the right to see me “instantly”, without notice or an appointment.
- I take exception to your confrontational attitude towards me personally (made all the worst by doing so in front of your daughter).
- I take exception to the fact that you were blaming the School for something that occurred outside school.
- I take exception to the conduct and attitudes of parents such as yourself who, in my view, set such poor examples to their own children - effectively saying that aggressive and intolerant behaviour is entirely acceptable.
Finally, I would like to apologise for what you clearly felt was my own rudeness in walking away from you. In the light of the verbal abuse I’d had to endure, I decided that the only appropriate course of action was to refer you to a member of the School’s Senior Management Team.
Yours sincerely
Mr Broadway
PS: this is the letter I would have LIKED to send! Situations like this make me question why I bother at all.

MICMACS

Tough choice. Do I watch the whole of the Reading v Villa game on TV or do I go to The Watershed to see Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “MICMACS” (Moira was at a bread-making workshop!)? I decided on the latter. Jeunet was the director of my favourite film “Amelie”, so I felt I needed to see it. Although it fell a little short of any comparison with “Amelie” (pretty difficult to live up to!), it did have lots of characteristic Jeunet’s touches - and also featured perhaps half a dozen of the Amelie actors too (including the brilliant Dominique Pinon) - and beautiful little visual jokes. The humour was almost slapstick at times and, with all its fantastic invention and imagination, there were moments when it almost felt as if you were watching Wallace+Gromit!
PS: The Villa won despite the fact that they were losing when I set off for the cinema (they only seem to lose if I watch the game!).

more books

I’ve just finished reading Paul Auster’s “Travels in the Scriptorium” and “The Reader” by Bernhard Schlink. It was interesting reading them one after the other as they felt oddly linked. I was captivated by Auster’s book (one review I’ve subsequently read talks about the “spell the novel casts over the reader” and I think this is pretty close to the mark). It features a man in a room on his own with a desk and a manuscript. Schlink’s book concludes with a prisoner on her own in her cell surrounded by cassettes of book readings. The illiterate prisoner learns to read and was once a prison guard; the man is perhaps also serving a sentence of some kind – with the characters who enter the room each being described as “former operatives” once controlled by the man.
I thought the film of “The Reader” was absolutely brilliant and the novel is probably one of the most impressive books I’ve ever read – a love story which subsequently becomes an enquiry into the effects of the Holocaust. Sensitive, uplifting and ultimately strangely hopeful.
Think I’d like to read some more Paul Auster (although he’s probably far too clever for me!).
Photo: image from “The Reader” film, bookcovers and Paul Auster.

the great offices of state

If Si Smith is my wonderful music and art guru, then my great car-share/teacher mate Andy is my television programme advisor. I really don’t watch much TV these days but Andy has recently been imploring me to watch “The Great Offices of State” on the BBC. It’s a three-part series presented by Michael Cockerell and “uncovers the secret world of Whitehall” (within the Treasury, Home and Foreign Offices). I’ve now watched them all on iPlayer and they’ve been absolutely fascinating (Professor Peter Hennessey is excellent) – with (pretty frank) interviews with past and present politicians and “normally camera-shy” civil servants. The programmes should be made compulsory viewing for all students of modern History and Politics.

Brilliant!

Photo: The Foreign Office, London.

we woz robbed....

So, it wasn’t to be…. the Villa team got to the League Cup final at Wembley but fell at the last. Adam and I sat in front of the TV and were initially galvanised into thinking we were going to win after Milner scored from a penalty early on (but mystified that why the United man wasn't sent off). Man U probably edged the game in the end, but it could have gone either way….

Photo: Adam+I, suitably clad, in relaxed mood (BEFORE the game!).

west wing+bullying?

As you might have gathered, I absolutely love the “West Wing” (pathetically, I’m only up to the middle of Season 3 thus far, but I’m getting there). Good generally seems to win over bad. I find the characters and storylines fascinating, clever, sharp and funny. When I grow up, I aspire to be a cross between CJ and Toby.
However, I’m also aware that there are aspects of the programme that quite appal me. For instance:
- They seem obsessed with “outworking each other” – forever calling everyone to 7am meetings and regularly working into the “early hours” (ditto working weekends)… “whatever you do, don’t be the first one to leave for home”.
- No one (apart from the President) seems capable of maintaining a relationship/marriage.
- They bark out strategy decisions and orders (and they talk SO fast!) - nobody ever asks someone to repeat anything. I wouldn’t last a month before I made some calamitous error (“oh sorry, I thought that’s what we’d agreed”).
- Calling key staff/governors etc to meetings at the White House at a moment’s notice (failure to attend will almost certainly have severe implications).
Do you think any of the above would constitute “bullying”?
Should anyone warn Gordon?
Just a thought….

a single man

Alan, Gareth, Carolyn, Moira+I went to see “A Single Man” at the Watershed yesterday afternoon. Based on Christopher Isherwood’s semi-autobiographical novel and featuring an outstanding Colin Firth as an English college professor in 1962 Los Angeles (Gareth was pleased to see Firth emerging from water once again – naked this time, not a wet shirt in sight!). Beautiful photography and elegantly-constructed scenes (directed by fashion designer Tom Ford – actually, everything was probably just a little too sumptuous!) and I loved how the film emerged from semi-monochrome to more intense colours (and back) as Firth engaged with some of the characters. Julianne Moore is wonderful as a best friend, confidante, semi-alcoholic divorcee.

felix in midsummer night’s dream

This is the eleventh season of the highly-acclaimed “Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory” (11 February–20 March) and this year they’re performing “Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Tempest” (and for the third year running it’s already a near sell-out). Felix (Hannah’s husband for those who don’t know!) has been chosen for parts in both plays. “MSND” is currently running and has received some stunning reviews.
Lyn Gardner in “The Guardian” describes it thus: “It's possible to see at least four productions of Shakespeare's play this month, and inevitably Peter Hall's revival with Judi Dench has grabbed the headlines. But if you want to see Shakespeare's play at its freshest and funniest, you should head straight to Bristol, where Andrew Hilton produces low-budget Shakespeare with a consistency that must make the RSC weep”. Jeremy Brien’s review in “The Stage” is equally lyrical: “Ralph Richardson once said he had never seen a bad production of the Dream, but equally had never seen a perfect one. This sparkling offering helps tip the balance towards the latter”.
In MSND, Felix plays the part of Tom Snout and it’s been really lovely seeing that he’s been picked out for special mention in several reviews, for example:
The Guardian: “This is a Dream that is wistful and sexy, with a wild pagan heart beating beneath its ­formal ­exterior. There are some blissfully funny moments, including a Snout who plays Wall with glorious anguish”.
The Stage: “Chris Donnelly brings some delightful Marx Brothers’ touches to Nick Bottom, Felix Hayes’ Snout the Tinker almost steals the whole shebang as an Olympic weight-lifting ‘Wall’ in the Pyramus and Thisbe interlude, while Christopher Staines anchors the entire box of delights as an all-knowing Puck”.
Moira+I can’t wait to see it (and 13 March seems an awful long time ahead!).

Photo: Felix is on the extreme right!

more books

You might recall (but probably not!) that I made a vague resolution at the end of August to try to read more over the coming year – after reading some seven books over the summer. Well, thus far, I’ve done a little better than usual. I’ve previously blogged about the following books: The Wasp Factory (Iain Banks), Goodbye Mr Chips (James Hilton), 31 Songs (Nick Hornby), Fugitive Pieces (Anne Michaels) and The Road (Cormac McCarthy) and I’ve now just finished* the following:
Anamcara (John O’Donohue): I just love the way he writes and know that this will be a book I’ll refer to again and again over the coming years.
Ten Things They Never Told Me About Jesus (John L Bell): We’ve been reading this book in our Ithaca group. Very accessible and challenging. John Bell is always very good value.
Letters From An Extreme Pilgrim (Peter Owen Jones): He’s my kind of vicar! Although I could easily finish* this book in a couple of hours, I’m only reading a letter-a-day as part of my Lenten routine/discipline.
The Shipping News (E Annie Proulx): I picked this up at a second-hand book stall and really enjoyed it; beautifully written. Think it’s time I bought the DVD!
The Shack (William P Young): I’m not a great lover of “Christian Fiction” but, despite it’s “american-folksey-schmaltz”(?), actually found it quite thought-provoking.
The fact that four of these five books are vaguely spiritual in content seems a little strange for me – but perhaps it does reflect a little of the way I’m feeling just now (in a self-examination sort of way I suppose – but not in a bad, beat-yourself-up manner!).

tea party movement

The Tea Party movement started in the US in February last year with local, spontaneously-organised and internet-fuelled protests against what participants perceived as “big government” and its excessive spending (and, to some extent, I can understand where they’re coming from – even though the big spending had started under George W, largely as a result of greedy bankers). Having read various newspaper reports over recent months, I’m somewhat alarmed by the rapid growth of this group – which essentially appears to be to the right of the Republican party (and almost anti-Republican?) - and, from the radio interviews I’ve heard on the BBC’s World Service, by the extreme views of (at least) some of its supporters. If you’ve previously read my blog, you will have realised that I’m an Obama fan. I’ve been encouraged that, over the past year or so, the US has become a “world player” once more. Frighteningly, I think that the Tea Party Movement might well become a political force by the time of the next Presidential Election and, if the extreme/selfish opinions that I’ve been hearing take hold (they remind me of the early days of the Thatcher government), then we should all fear the worse.
PS: At present, there seems to be a fair amount of in-fighting regarding the Tea Party’s organisation/leadership…. but they’ll surely sort this out in due course.
PPS: I’m not sure if I was depressed or encouraged by the fact that Sarah Palin recently addressed a TP convention…. surely, any movement would realise the folly of lining up behind her (especially if she did reportedly charge a fee of $115,000)?

Photo: worst case scenario?

year of the tiger

Moira+I went up the City Museum+Art Gallery yesterday to see some of the Chinese New Year celebrations. As it’s the “Year of the Tiger”, our artist friend Tony Eastman had been invited to provide various tiger artefacts that he’d been collecting from around the world over many years – some wonderful stuff. We also watched the Lion Dance in the main foyer, performed by the University of Bristol Chinese Lion Dance Troupe. LOTS of others turned out to watch it too – the foyer was packed out and so were the first and second floor galleries. A really impressive spectacle (the Museum+Art Gallery really is just brilliant!).
Photo: Lion dance; small Chinese spectator and part of Tony’s Tiger Collection.
PS: Played golf at Studley Wood, Oxford this morning with Pete, Bob and Steve (largely thanks to the “other” Steve, we beat P+B by three holes). Lovely time despite the cold and grey.

breakfast in brum with bruv

Really good way to start the half-term holiday today – drove up to Birmingham early in the morning to meet up with Alan and have breakfast just off Gas Street Basin. Great just to have time to “chew the cud” and to wander around the Jewellery Quarter and along some city canal towpaths. Had a lovely day – and back home in time to watch the France v Ireland game on tv.
Photo: the brothers enjoying coffee in Costa, Brindley Place - the guy on the right looks pretty rough doesn’t he (tired, sunken eyes, grey hair, big nose and big blemishes!)?

irish golf tour 2010

Shortly after 9/11 in 2001 my lovely buddies, Ken+Steve, and I went golfing to New York State. I was an amazing time (taking in such courses as Beth Page Black and Oak Hill). While we were there, we met up with the equally amazing “Coach” (Tony Gamboli). We vowed to lure Tony over to the UK and, sure enough, in 2003 Tony and his son Michael (plus our mate Stuart) joined us on a “The Famous Scotland Golf Tour” (taking in such courses as Prestwick, Machrihanish, Gleneagles, Carnoustie, and St Andrews New Course… as you do!).
Well, it’s all going to happen again later this year (24-30 October) when Tony and Michael join Ken, Steve and I (plus Simon, Larry and Barry) on a tour of Southern Ireland (pathetically, even though Moira is half Irish, I’ve NEVER been to Ireland!). Once again, Steve (not me!) has put together another breathtaking itinerary: Monday – Old Head; Tuesday – Waterville; Wednesday – Tralee; Thursday – Ballybunion Cashen; Friday – Ballybunion Old Course.
Photos: Old Head, Waterville, Tralee, Ballybunion Cashen and Old Course.
PS: Think this might have to become a new blog (watch this space!).

the car in front is a toyota….

Actually, the reason it’s in front could be due to a sticking accelerator pedal…. or maybe, if it’s a Prius, it could be due to a “momentary loss of braking capability”.
Joking apart, you really have to feel for them don't you (and those who’ve been involved in any accidents) when it involves them having to recall millions of its vehicles.

sex+drugs+rock+roll+rugby+folkhouse

We crammed an awful lot into yesterday!
At the start of the afternoon, Gareth, Moira+I went to the Watershed to see “Sex+Drugs+Rock+Roll” – a portrayal of Ian Dury’s rise to fame in the 1970s with the Blockheads and featuring the incredibly impressive Andy Serkis in the title role. As you might have expected, the film was a powerful mixture of aggression, anger, ego, tenderness and wit. I couldn’t honestly say that I really enjoyed it. I like this description of Ian Dury by Philip French in The Observer: “He is a man ready to sacrifice anything in order to be the master of his fate, the captain of his soul” and this is certainly what the film emphasises.
I rushed out of the cinema to join Felix in the near-by Mackenzies Bar to watch the England v Wales rugby (Gareth+Moira decided to return home!). Sound performance and a deserved 30-17 victory – despite them almost letting Wales back into the game with only 10 minutes left.
Fee+I were then joined by Hannah+Moira and we went to a concert at the Folk House on Park Street (part of my birthday present from H+F) – featuring Daisy Chapman, John E Vistic and Stanton Delaplane (all excellent). I’d never been to the Folk House and was really impressed. A lovely evening and a great way to end a hectic day!
PS: I ended up buying one of Daisy Chapman’s CDs and, as soon as I got home, duly removed the cellophane wrapping – only to discover that there was NOTHING inside!! I’ve sent her a message on MySpace, so I hope they’ll rectify the error quickly!

heads in the sand

I’m hugely depressed by the “findings” of the BBC News’s latest poll on climate change. As recently as last November, a poll by The Times indicated that only 41% of the UK population acknowledged that climate change was happening and that it was generally established that it was largely man-made. Frighteningly, this figure (based on a February 2010 poll conducted by Populus) has now reduced to a paltry 26% - in other words, only one-in-four of British people!
What on earth is wrong with people in this country? Have they decided that our cold winter means that global warming (I hate this description) couldn’t possibly be happening? Thanks to so-called “science flaws”, do they really think that researchers have manipulated ALL the scientific data? Will the main political parties all decide that, because of its apparent low ranking in the eyes of the general public, they should concentrate on other issues which might attract more votes?
It’s almost as if the general public are saying “if we don’t acknowledge that climate change is happening, then perhaps it will just go away”?
Time is running out fast…. hello, is anybody listening out there?

birthday stories

It was my birthday yesterday. In truth, I was feeling pretty rough by the end of the day (no alcohol involved, I assure you!) and really just felt like having an early night. But we’d arranged to have an early supper at Hannah+Fee’s and then to go on to one of the Bristol Storytelling Festival events – featuring their great friend Martin Maudsley – and I didn’t want to mess up the arrangements. In the event, I was very glad I didn’t because it was a wonderful evening. Hannah cooked an excellent supper (with Ruth+Stu+Iris+Rosa there too) and then Hannah, Moira and I went on to the storytelling event (Felix was rehearsing “Midsummer Night’s Dream" for the forthcoming “Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory” season). It was held in the amazing Robert Mills Architectural Antiques warehouse in St Werburghs. Yes, it WAS very cold (but we’d gone fully prepared and were armed with huge quilts and warm clothes – and, yes, we DID drink the odd dram to fend off the chill). It was just like an Aladdin’s cave of architectural delights and provided an ideal backcloth for the evening (and with beautiful musical accompaniment too on violin and ukulele!). The evening was based around stories about Martin’s grandfather (“Old Tom’s Tales”) – funny, poignant and very entertaining.
A brilliant evening.

the road (the book)

I don’t think I would have read Cormac McCarthy’s book “The Road” if I hadn’t first seen the film (despite encouragement from good friends Rob and Alan). I was incredibly impressed by the film (perhaps the best film I’ve seen in the past twelve months?) and so had rather mixed feelings when I first started reading the book (could it in any way live up to the film or would it just be a big let-down?). I needn’t have been concerned; I thought the book was equally brilliant. It was just as unrelenting and mesmerising as the film, if not even more so. I just loved the writing style - especially the dialogue between the man and the boy. I also found it incredibly (and surprisingly) moving and suddenly realised that, as I was reading the last few pages, tears were absolutely streaming down my face (I’m pretty soft and can be slightly watery-eyed on occasions, but nothing like this!!).
A stunning, memorable book.
Are you carrying the fire?
Are you one of the good guys?

holocaust day

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) – commemorating the day in 1945 on which the Soviet Army liberated the largest Nazi concentration camp – Auschwitz-Birkenau.
In 2005, to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation, I remember watching a brilliant, powerful musical memorial on BBC television featuring an orchestra and singers performing in the camp itself. The HMD Trust urges people to take an opportunity to use some time today to pause and reflect on what can happen when racism, prejudice and exclusionary behaviour are left unchecked. Watching this clip would certainly aid any such reflection (from the BBC programme, featuring Henryk Gorecki’s wonderful Symphony no.3 “Sorrowful Souls”).

still walking

Moira and I went to see Hirokazu Kore-eda’s film “Still Walking” at the Watershed yesterday afternoon. The Watershed’s blurb describes it as “a quiet pleasure” and I think that’s pretty accurate. It’s a lovely gentle, endearing film set over the course of a 24 hour period as a family acknowledges the 15th anniversary of the death of its adored eldest son.
Footnote: the programme notes included an interview with the director and, in it, he conceded that “it might be that I keep making movies directly after someone dies” and he went on to talk about the death of his father and mother (particularly about the “superficial” relationship he’d had with his father – “we never really had deep conversations”). Strangely, this triggered a series of memories from a really difficult time in our family’s life from 1992. Moira’s mother died in the February of that year and my father died in July; our friends Ann and Mike both died within 6 months of each other, by June (and we agreed for their 14 year-old daughter Jo to come and live with us as an extra member of our family – which she did, but only for a matter of a few months, before she went to live with her older brothers). It was difficult time for all of us…. although there was a bright spot: the birth of my brother’s twin daughters Megan+Eleanor in July (just nine days after Dad’s death).

sunday morning

Had coffee at Costa by the harbourside again this morning. Scribbled some notes, read a chapter of John Bell’s book* before walking on to spend some time in Fopp (I just love Fopp!).
Three brief reflections/incidents:
1. As I walked past the harbourside Pizza Express, I noticed a load of kids inside – each wearing chef’s hats (the place was completely empty apart from them and a few members of staff). They were having a brilliant time, lots of laughter and hands-on experimenting led by one of the staff (they were trying out various pizza fillings I think). I’m usually very critical of many commercial organisations, but this was REALLY impressive. I’m sure the parents had to pay to enable their kids to attend, but they were having SUCH a good time. It made me smile. I even wanted to JOIN them!
2. As I came out of Fopp, I walked past the “Mayor’s Chapel” (it’s just beautiful – if you haven’t seen inside, you simply MUST) just as an elderly (rather fashion-conscious albeit in a slightly embarrassing way) lady was departing. She was wearing a long (ie. down to the ankles) black coat together with a white “furry” hat - but it actually looked as if she’d just touched something which had given her “hat” an electric charge and it all seemed to be “standing on end”. As I approached her, she clearly saw that her husband/partner was waiting in a car just a few yards away. I heard her say “oh, oh, oh”(!) and then she started “running” in the direction of the aforementioned vehicle. It was absolutely pathetic… she “ran” in rapid, six inch “strides” (honestly!), and continuing to utter “oh, oh, oh”! I overtook her with ease. I can only imagine what her husband/partner was thinking – or perhaps he was used to it!
3. I was playing my i-Pod as I walked home. The concluding tune on one of my playlists was “The Boys are Back in Town” by Belle and Sebastian (recorded live in Belfast). I just love the way the instrumental introduction builds to fever pitch…. you NEED to hear it on this link (BUT played at full volume!). The original was, of course, by Thin Lizzy in 1976 – click here for a live 1983 concert link.

Photo: Pizza Express by the Harbourside.
Note: * “10 Things They Never Told Me About Jesus”.

bob’s beautiful bridge blues*

If you live in Bristol, you will definitely have heard the wonderful tenor sax music played by a busker on Pero’s Bridge (in my head, his name’s “Bob” for some reason!). I’m not sure how often he’s there, but I certainly come across him most Saturdays and Sundays if I’m around the harbourside. He’s an excellent musician, with an apparently inexhaustible jazz repertoire in his head, and the glorious sound of his saxophone pervades the surrounding area. It’s just lovely and it really lifts the spirits. I frequently drop money into his instrument case but, one day, I really must stop and talk to him (and thank him)… and find out if his name IS Bob!
Photo: Bob on bridge.
note: * he doesn’t play blues, but jazz didn’t scan for the heading!

still awaiting first female uk bishop

I know absolutely nothing about the Revd Canon Dr Alison Peden, but I had hoped that she might have become the first female bishop of a major UK church yesterday. Sadly, it wasn’t to be. The Very Revd Dr Gregor Duncan, aged 59, (pictured) was elected the new bishop of Glasgow and Galloway.
As it happens, Gregor was a trainee priest(?) when I was a churchwarden of St Michael and All Angels, Summertown, Oxford (in about 1978?). Ironically, at the time, I seem to remember him being him being staunchly opposed to women priests (I’m happy to say that the parochial church council voted strongly in favour nevertheless)!
PS: strangely, Duncan is the third curate/trainee priest during our relatively brief “church life” in Oxford (say 1972-82) to have subsequently been elected bishop. The other two were: Rt Revd Lord Colin Bennetts, Bishop of Coventry (retired 2007) and Rt Revd Sir David Conner KCVO, Dean of Windsor (former Bishop to HM Forces).
Some people clearly have influence… Tanya better prepare herself!

election

Thanks to Andy's recommendation, I watched “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama” on BBC iPlayer a couple of nights ago. Just brilliant, captivating television. It’s a rough-and-ready documentary, right from the start of the his campaign (from 2007, and well before he decided to run for President) by film-makers Amy Rice and Alicia Sams. I blogged about Obama a number of times during the election campaign – here, here and here for example). With our own forthcoming General Election, it just made me YEARN for someone as charismatic and, frankly, believable as Obama as one of our own Party leaders.
I surprised myself by feeling really quite emotional during the programme. It reminded me that politics and elections CAN be exciting, stimulating and feel life-changing. I scribbled down the following quote from one of Obama’s campaign people in reference to the enthusiastic involvement of so many young people: “The kids, they think they’re changing the world – and I think they ARE!”. Actually, the star of the programme was a 9 year-old boy (but you’d have to watch the programme to know what I’m on about!).
Yes, we can!
The nearest I’ve ever got to feeling similarly inspired was perhaps election night in 1997 and Blair’s new Labour government. It’s a little ridiculous that our own general election has become almost presidential in style and I have to say that, as things stand, the nearest to an Obama-figure in my humble opinion (but an awful long way behind!) is perhaps Nick Clegg. I’m afraid that, as things stand, both Cameron and Brown leave me cold.
PS: I also watched the first of Simon Sharma’s series entitled “Obama’s America” the same evening (well, actually, I fell asleep after ten minutes and watched it yesterday morning over breakfast!). It’s absolutely fascinating and I love Sharma’s relaxed, low-key presentation style.

the road

Went along to see “The Road” at the Watershed with Gareth+Alan yesterday.
A powerful, unrelenting film telling the story of humanity being pushed to extremes following some unspecified catastrophe. Wonderfully acted, brilliantly filmed and complemented by a beautiful, delicate soundtrack (by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis). Good friend Rob “wholeheartedly” recommended the film and I totally agree with him. I haven’t read the book (both Rob+Alan had), but I understand that the film is pretty true to it…. and I certainly will in due course. However good the book is, what is absolutely clear to me is that the film is brilliant in its own right.
A stunning film.
PS: I came away from the film feeling emotionally, and almost physically, drained and then (bearing in mind that the film has to deal with hunger and threats from cannibalistic maraunders), somewhat bizarrely, sat down to a fantastic roast lamb supper… followed by 90 minutes of the excellent, but equally draining, “Wallander”!
PHEW!… and they’re expecting me to go work today too (after three snowdays)!