by george, he doesn’t get it…

We were having supper with our lovely friends Alan+Gareth earlier this evening and they both expressed surprise that I hadn’t commented (via blog or facebook or whatever) about the latest outpourings from our beloved Chancellor.
I hadn’t a clue what they were talking about (clearly, any such remarks had been made to coincide with our two-day trip to Stratford earlier in the week – at a time when I was out of the “news loop”!).
According to last Tuesday’s Guardian (who were reporting what Mr Osborne had earlier told The Daily Telegraph!), it seems that Mr Osborne was "shocked" to discover that some of the wealthiest people in the country pay "virtually no" income tax. Amazingly, it seems that George pays absolutely no attention to the wealth(?) of comments and advice written on the subject over recent months (and, equally staggering, he certainly doesn’t read my blog either in which I’ve regularly made reference to tax avoidance over the past three years).
I can’t believe I’m writing this.
Where has the Chancellor been over the past few years?
Apparently, he told The Telegraph: "I was shocked to see that some of the very wealthiest people in the country have organised their tax affairs, and to be fair it's within the tax laws, so that they were regularly paying virtually no income tax. And I don't think that's right”.
You tell ‘em George!!
But, hang on, Mr Osborne is the Chancellor of the Exchequer isn’t he?
Isn’t he supposed to be ensuring that people pay the appropriate level of taxes?
Is it just me or do the Chancellor’s comments smack of a little insincerity?
I know I’ve been enjoying Shakespeare this week, but “the (Chancellor) doth protest too much, methinks” would seem an appropriate phrase.
Actually, perhaps Basil Fawlty would be closer to the mark: “Oh! Oh, I see!...It's my fault, is it?...Oh, of course, there I was thinking it was your fault… when all the time it was my fault! Oh, it's so obvious now, I've seen the light! Ah well, I must be punished then, mustn't I? (slaps his bottom) You're a naughty boy Fawlty, don't do it again!”

If only…

twelfth night at the RSC

Ken+Debby+Moira+I went to see Twelfth Night at the RSC last night (Director: David Farr). Felix was playing Fabian.
After a pre-theatre early supper in Carluccio’s, we all enjoyed a wonderful evening of theatre at its very best. The technical design and production were hugely impressive and brilliantly inventive and the actors were all first class. Nicholas Day made an excellent Sir Toby Belch, but Jonathan Slinger’s performance as Malvolio was simply stunning. I’ve seen the play performed professionally at least a couple times before, but this was by far the best I’d seen. Quite hilarious at times and much appreciated by the full house. One of the unexpected bonuses of the production for me was the beautiful music - especially the song that brought the performance to an end (sung/played by Kevin McMonagle and composed by Adem Ilhan).
I know I’ve said this many, many times before, but I just love the magic of live theatre… and this was something VERY special.
Moira+I stayed in Stratford overnight with Hannah+Fee+Ursula and spent a lovely morning chilling+mooching around the town (actually, I ended up taking Ursula on a route march along riverside paths and back streets to give her parents some well-earned respite!) before having a special private back-stage theatre tour from Felix and then an excellent lunch together in the third floor restaurant at the RSC.
VERY good times.
Photo: that special air of anticipation… photograph taken as the audience began to settle in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre before last night’s performance.

PS: Hannah+Felix are renting a small house from the RSC for the period of Fee's "run" (until October) - it's directly opposite the theatre and provides him with a daily commute of less than 30 seconds!!

PPS: double-click on the image to enlarge!

book group

By chance, I listened to a “Readers’ Lives” programme on Radio4 last night. It was about a book group, formed in “affluent Putney” some 10 years ago. I’d first heard the programme about this time last year – just as we (Catherine, Felicia, Gareth, Lal, Ruth, Liz, Moira, Alan+I) were forming our own book group (entitled “The Slow Readers Group”!).
The Putney group consists of six women but, as the BBC website is quick to emphasise, “this is no casual club open to the public but a close knit circle of friends and bibliophiles whose group is exclusive”. As you will have noted, our group is a little different in that it “allows” (encourages? tolerates?) men and we certainly don’t vet potential members! The Putney group also meets over dinner; we’re happy to make do with wine+nibbles. In addition, most of the Putney group seem to be dog owners(!) and, as they just happened to mention, Jilly Cooper had previously joined them to discuss one of her books they’d been reading (as you do). As yet, we haven’t aspired to celebrity appearances.
Actually, for all my inverted snobbishness, the Putney book group does sound very enjoyable and worthwhile. I’ve certainly been enjoying our own group meetings – it’s good to read stuff that you wouldn’t otherwise have read. On the negative side (and this is purely something that applies to me personally), our discussions always seem to reinforce a) my inability to recall details, b) my inability to remember characters’ names (this also applies to the other little things, like the name of the book or the author!) and c) my lack of intellect(?) when it comes to fully understanding plots and other significant matters!
Photo: our group's current book.

exultate singers at st james priory

Gareth, Alan, Iona, Moira+I went to a wonderful concert at St James Priory, Bristol last night entitled “Easter Mysteries”, given by Exultate Singers (“Bristol’s accomplished chamber choir”) and accompanied by Richard May on cello. It was just stunningly beautiful. The superb music included Threnos (for solo cello) and Svyati by John Tavener – I do LOVE his music - plus works by Knut Nystedt, Francis Grier and Frank Martin. It was the first time I’d heard Exultate Singers, but certainly not the last; they were mightily impressive.
It was also the first time I’d ever been inside St James Priory church. It’s an absolutely lovely building - described as “the oldest building in Bristol still in use today” (the Priory was founded in 1129) – and has been beautifully and sensitively restored. I will certainly be returning to see it in daylight before very long. St James Priory provides residential support and treatment for people suffering from substance addiction and/or homelessness.

you’re not going to believe this, but…

Shock, horror!
Amazingly, at long last, I actually AGREE with something Education Secretary Gove has said (well, ONE sentence at least).
Actually, what I SHOULD say is that Mr Gove has, rather late in the day, come round to my own way of thinking on the subject of A-levels!
Apparently, according the BBC’s website, Mr Gove says he is concerned that A-levels are failing to properly prepare students for university - in future, it appears that normal control of A-level content will be taken away from exam boards and handed to universities "drive the system" (whatever that means – personally, I’m in the Stefan Collini camp when it comes to the purpose of university education).
I’ve previously written about sixth form education, in terms of university preparation, on a number of occasions (eg. March 2009 and September 2010 as samplers), but this is an extract from something I wrote on 11 November 2009 when I was working in an “outstanding” (in OFSTED terms) North Somerset comprehensive school – it clearly doesn’t apply to ALL sixth-formers:
“You can get into our sixth form (in theory) if you achieve a minimum of 6 Cs at GCSE. The problem is that our school is so good at getting pupils to achieve very good GCSE results that we end up with accepting pupils into the sixth form who perhaps shouldn’t be there and for whom the step up to A Levels comes as an enormous shock. The system effectively encourages schools to “spoonfeed” pupils so that they pass their exams (obviously, the brighter ones don’t need this and will be successful anyway) – it’s not the pupils who are examined these days, it’s the schools!
And, of course, this is often repeated for A Levels – with pupils being schooled (again, spoonfed in my view) to pass. The trouble is, it seems to me, that for some of these “successful” students, the world of university education or the “real world” of work will come as an almighty shock to the system. It’s there that they’ll be “found out” – when there’s no longer anyone around to spoonfeed them in the way they’ve become accustomed… or maybe I’ve just become very cynical in my old age!”

But, of course, universities need to attract students in order to generate their respective incomes… so, perhaps for some universities, it’s not in their interests to “blow the whistle”… which just leaves the “real world” then?
I think I’d better stop now!

the politics of disillusionment?

For the Labour Party, this must have seemed like a DREAM week in the lead up to the Bradford West by-election on Thursday. It had started with the (now former) Tory treasurer Peter Cruddas having been recorded telling the Sunday Times that a "premier league" payment of up to £250,000 would win a dinner in Downing Street. This was closely followed by Francis Maude’s advice for us all to store petrol in our garage in a jerry can - afterall, we all have garages don’t we (and don’t worry about the fire risks)? And, of course, there was “Pastygate” (George Osborne’s pathetic handling of his decision to impose VAT on pasties). It was, without doubt, the worst week (so far) in this government’s short history.
In Bradford, Labour was defending a majority of nearly 6,000. It had held the seat for the past 38 years.
It was a seat it just couldn’t lose… surely?
In the event, as you now know, George Galloway (Respect Party) annihilated the Labour vote, winning a 10,140 majority. I’m essentially a Labour Party supporter but, sadly, I’ve been embarrassed by its pathetic performance as “HM’s Loyal Opposition” thus far. For me, the leadership is poor (Cameron is generally running rings round Miliband) and there is no one in the Shadow Cabinet (with the possible exception of Yvette Cooper and Douglas Alexander?) who provides the desire, capability and wit to provide an effective alternative government.
Whatever you think of George Galloway’s political views (and I have a lot of reservations!), you cannot deny his charisma. Remember his response to the US Senate Committee regarding alleged improprieties surrounding the Oil-for-Food programme in 2005? This is what he told committee chairman Coleman:
“Senator, I am not now, nor have I ever been, an oil trader, and neither has anyone on my behalf. I have never seen a barrel of oil, owned one, bought one, sold one – and neither has anyone on my behalf. Now I know that standards have slipped in the last few years in Washington, but for a lawyer you are remarkably cavalier with any idea of justice. I am here today but last week you already found me guilty. You traduced my name around the world without ever having asked me a single question, without ever having contacted me, without ever written to me or telephoned me, without any attempt to contact me whatsoever. And you call that justice”.

You can’t deny it… brilliant!
On facebook this morning, my good friend Rob commented:
“The difference between a charismatic and a non-charismatic politician is exemplified brilliantly in the first couple of minutes of this video. I can see why they chose him”.

I completely agree!
Frankly, there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of difference between the three major parties these days. So, in the absence of any real alternative*, it will come down to presentation and salesmanship at the next General Election and, as things stand (and on the basis of presentation alone), the Tories are likely to win outright. Depressing or what!
I’m looking for a politician to excite and inspire me (Barack Obama has come closest thus far, but unfortunately…). In the meantime, it all seems very depressing out there and I feel as if I’m about to join the ranks of the politically disillusioned!
PS: You might recall that, seven years ago, Galloway had also humiliated Oona King (someone I personally rated fairly highly on the political/charismatic scale) by demolishing her 10,000 majority in Bethnal Green and Bow.
PPS: * Yes, I HAVE voted for the Green Party in local elections but, under the present electoral arrangements, there is absolutely no prospect of the Greens becoming a viable part of any government in the immediate (or long-term?) future.

summer(?) in the city

Moira+I went to Colston Hall early yesterday evening for a drink and to listen/watch live music (the music was free, the drink wasn’t!) in its great “foyer performance space”. Last night featured the excellent jazz musician Kevin Figes (alto sax and flute). There are free foyer performances every Thursday and Friday (approx. 5.45-7.15pm). Good atmosphere. We went on to have some excellent simple food at (my favourite) no.1 Harbourside Bar – AND they have free music there too – Mondays+Wednesdays from 9.30pm and Thursdays+Fridays from 10.30pm (way after my bedtime!).
The combination of the clocks changing last weekend and a week of glorious, sunny weather certainly gave the city a happy, lively, cosmopolitan feel last night (although I suspect it got MUCH livelier a little later!).
Photo: foyer performance space at Colston Hall.
PS: I think this penchant for free musical entertainment must run in the family - I’m aware, from various facebook comments/pics, that my brother Alan quite often pops into the Symphony Hall Cafe/Bar in Birmingham for similar free events.

mysterious footprints in the mud…

As those of you familiar with Bristol’s “Cut” (the artificial waterway constructed 1804-09 to divert the tidal River Avon) will know, you do NOT see people trying to clamber over the shiny slime of its enveloping, muddy banks. Frankly, such a prospect would surely be both idiotic and potentially suicidal…
Well, I was walking along the footpath that adjoins the Cut this morning and, as you will note if you look carefully at the above photograph, spotted two sets of large footprints coming from the Cut’s murky waters (that is, in addition to the various tracks from its regular birdlife). No apparent sign of the people having been trying to carry a boat or anything and no sign of any footprints on the opposite bank. Have I discovered “monsters from the deep” or just a couple of lads messing around?
Answers on a postcard please…

PS: double-click on the image to enlarge!

the kid with a bike

Moira was involved in various stuff this afternoon+evening, so I decided to pack myself off to the Watershed to see this Dandenne brothers’ film. It tells the story of a highly-troubled and petulant 12 year-old boy, Cyril (Thomas Doret), who’s abandoned by his father and taken under the wing of a kindly woman (Cecile De France), who agrees to foster him at weekends. Her attempts at giving him a proper childhood aren’t helped by the actions/inactions of four of the film’s key male characters. A “warm, heartrending film”… basically, all men are rubbish and women should be allowed to take over the world (or something like that and they're probably right!). I enjoyed it.

nhs bill… what’s the point? why bother?

Moira+I were up in Lancashire with Alice+Dave+family when the Government’s NHS Bill was passed and I’m only just coming to terms with the depressing implications.
At the end of the Tory Party Conference in 2006, Cameron insisted that the NHS was safe in his hands. "Tony Blair explained his priorities in three words: education, education, education… I can do it in three letters: NHS." He emphasised that change would be "driven by the wishes and needs of NHS professionals and patients". In January 2010, Cameron launched the Conservative health manifesto with his eye-catching poster promising “we will cut the deficit and not the NHS”.
In the event, of course, and despite passionate opposition from the vast majority of health professionals and the public, the Government steamrollered its political ideology and the Bill will become law early next week. Even the government must admit that, after more than 1,000 amendments, the Bill is now little more than a dog’s dinner – unfortunately, the dog’s dinner USED to be the NHS.
In January 2011, the health select committee concluded: “the white paper proposes a disruptive reorganisation of the institutional structure of the NHS which was subject to little prior discussion and not foreshadowed in the coalition programme”.
Most nurses, doctors and patients now understand only too well what the government is doing with the NHS. It’s broken its promise on reorganisation - breaking up area-based health service planning and replacing it with closed-door decision making by consortia, potentially managed day-to-day by private companies. Rather than a single body responsible for population health and commissioning the whole pathway of services for an area, NHS planning will be fragmented and chaotic. There are particular fears for specialist services, with charities and others voicing concerns about a loss of focus and a return of postcode lotteries.
Yesterday’s “Church Times” (gosh, how well-read am I?!) referred to a letter sent last week by a number of Churches in the north of England to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Secretary, setting out their concerns about the impact of the Bill on deprived neighbourhoods in the north: “We wish to state that we have no confidence in market forces as they are applied to health care in the long term because of the inevitable con¬flict between self-interest and the care of other people, and between shareholder expectations and patient needs”. I can only echo such views (but rather more nationwide).
My fear is that the NHS Bill will turn the health service into a market like the privatised gas, water or telecoms utilities – to my mind, anything that allows profit to be a motive in health-care provision will be instinctively distrusted.
A lot of people (me included) made a LOT of noise, wrote letters, signed petitions, pestered their MP about the proposed NHS Bill. Virtually all the professional health bodies put forward detailed objections. To what end? Cameron+his buddies have ended up inflicting their conservative ideology on OUR health service because they, as politicians, (obviously) know so much more about running a health service than the professionals.
It’s all very, very depressing.

Photo: Many thanks to David Stuart (via facebook) for the pic!

remember, we’re all in this together (episode 28)…

When it comes to passing comment on this week’s Budget, you might expect an old duffer like me to pour scorn on George’s so-called “Granny Tax”… but I won’t (even if I’m not at ALL impressed).
For some time now, I’ve been very critical of the super-rich and the tax-avoiders (eg. Feb 2012, Feb 2011, Nov 2010 and Mar 2009 for starters). So, I was particularly interested in what Channel 4 News’ Economics Correspondent, Faisal Islam, has had to say (note: as some of you may be aware, Channel 4 is my television news channel of choice!):
“Apart from the leap in the personal tax allowance, what was the largest annual tax cut (in Wednesday’s Budget)? Expected tax avoidance this year. In fact you may have missed the mini fiscal stimulus at the heart of this Budget. There will be a £3bn fiscal loosening over the next year, followed by a £3bn tightening in the following years. What may be surprising is that this is almost entirely caused by £2.4bn of tax avoidance from Britain’s rich this year, that is then unwound in later years. Yes, this is the OBR’s expectation in this financial year that the rich will not pay out £6.5bn of dividends and bonuses in this tax year, but shift it into April 2013 when it attracts the 45p tax rate. Perfectly legal”.
Very depressing.
This year’s Budget was probably the most-leaked budget of all time. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had made great play of his intentions to make this Budget an “Anti-Tax Avoidance Budget”. On last night’s Channel 4 News, Islam pointed out that the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) had looked back on the last 10 years of UK Budgets in terms of the expected revenue to be gained from tax avoidance. Its conclusion? That this Budget was the third worst!!
Very, very depressing.
And yes, remember, we’re still all in this together!
PS: Oh, and wasn’t this government going to be the ‘greenest government ever’ (in reality, not all that difficult)? Well, putting money into airport expansions certainly doesn’t hit the green button… and the extra investment into North Sea oil and gas extraction essentially smacks of short-term thinking… and there was absolutely nothing in terms of renewable energy investment. What a surprise!

grumpy old man… and parking on corners

At the risk of someone accusing me of being a grumpy old man (who ME?), I’ve decided to post something about people who decide to park their cars on street corners. Our neighbourhood streets here in Southville are often pretty narrow and it makes visibility at junctions (for pedestrians and motorists alike) incredibly difficult AND potential hazardous. Back in December 2008, I blogged about a local blog here in Southville which essentially named and shamed guilty motorists in Southville (I note that they’ve subsequently made it a “by invitation only” blog – presumably after receiving hatemail from car owners!).
In my “retired state”, I am now a far more frequent pedestrian (and someone who often wheels a pushchair!) than driver and perhaps notice “pavement abuse” far more than I used to, but the Highway Code makes it ABSOLUTELY clear:
Rule 243: do not park opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space.
Traffic wardens (occasionally!) patrol our local streets but, as far as I’m aware, never hand out tickets to the parking culprits. Why not?
I can feel a letter to the Council coming on!
Photo: the owner of this car regularly ‘dumps” his/her car across pavements at road junctions and/or parks without due consideration for other road-users and pedestrians… it’s probably just as well that I’ve never met them!

february/march books

More books:

Death of a Salesman (Arthur Miller): This was the first time I’d read the play and I found it profoundly moving. It’s a timeless masterpiece – that questions the American consumer dream (and perhaps consumerism in general?). It’s about false hopes, pride, family aspirations, financial struggles, reality and unreality. There are a couple of slightly spooky personal connections about the play: it was written in the year of my birth (1949!) about a man in his 60s (oops!)… glad I’m not a salesman!
Churchill: The Struggle for Survival 1945-60 (Lord Moran): An absolutely fascinating, brilliant biography written by Churchill’s long-term doctor (who frequently saw him two or three times a week and accompanied him on most of his political excursions) about the post-war years. Insightful, intimate, illuminating and, at times, very amusing. A throw-back to times gone by – when Churchill, in his second premiership for example, did much of his work from his bed (“unless there is a Cabinet he does not get out of bed till luncheon”) and, on one occasion, had to check with one of his assistants to establish whether or not electricity was nationalized!
The Snapper (Roddy Doyle): I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every Doyle book I’ve ever read – and this was no exception (“snapper”: dimunition of “whippersnapper”). Absolutely hilarious at times (despite the F word appearing about four times every page). I particularly loved the Jimmy Rabbitte Senior character – the dialogue is absolutely priceless! I picked up the book free from a neighbour’s garden wall (she was clearly having a clear-out of her bookcases). First published in 1990.
The Genius and The Goddess (Jeffrey Meyers): The book recounts the lives of Arthur Miller (“genius”) and Marilyn Monroe (“goddess”) – including the five years of their difficult marriage. I’d originally been drawn to the book after reading Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” but, unfortunately from this viewpoint, two-thirds of it was focused on Monroe. Interesting book nevertheless – albeit in a considered, intelligent, somewhat up-market “Hello” magazine kind of way! For me, the most depressing part of the book was nothing to do with Monroe’s tragic life, it was a brief reference to Miller’s son Daniel (from his third marriage), who had Down’s Syndrome (Miller used the term “mongoloid”) and who was placed in a home for the mentally retarded; his wife visited him weekly for the next 40 years. Miller never did.
The Nail (Stephen Cottrell): Another journey through the Passion story. It imagines key witnesses describing Christ’s crucifixion from their points of view.

family time continues…

After spending last weekend looking after Iris+Rosa, Moira+I have just returned from a lovely few days in Leyland with Alice+Dave+Mikey+Dan+Jemima. SO good to see them again (first time since Christmas) and so good to see them continuing to develop in their own different and fascinating ways. Mikey’s greeting to us both is the stuff that just takes your breath away and makes you want to cry with joy (instant recognition, despite the gaps between our visits); Dan is a lovely, sensitive, happy boy – we shared lots of giggles+jokes together and he took great pleasure in taking us to his pre-school; and it was lovely to see Jemima growing up, smiling, dancing and chatting away (her current favourite phrase is calling everyone and everything “gorgeous” – as in, “hello gorgeous”!). Great too to have some chill time with Alice+Dave (it’s just amazing/wonderful how they cope with the three children!).
Grandparenthood is a VERY good thing!

Photo: Dan, Moira, Mima, Alice+Mikey on the sofa (three of them are watching TV!).
PS: if you’re not on facebook, you can see other pics by clicking here.

iris+rosa long weekend extravaganza

Ruth+Stu have had a long weekend break in South Hams – without the children! I’m pretty sure Iris+Rosa have “enjoyed” their stay with us. We’d had lots of fun together, including a zoo visit (on the bus), pizza-making, swan counting (and charts!), art sessions in the basement plus various café trips (as you do!). The three days were slightly complicated by the fact that Rosa was at the end of her first week of toilet-training (I won’t go into details – although, on the whole, it was pretty successful!). Fortunately, the girls also both slept beautifully, so the nights were entirely peaceful. It’s lovely that the girls are so relaxed about staying with us over prolonged periods and we feel very privileged that this is the case.
Photo: Iris+Rosa “sprinting” down the cheetah running track at Bristol Zoo.

PS: a number of people have commented that I no longer seem to be posting pics of Iris+Rosa on the blog and on facebook (except for family members)... this is a conscious family decision (especially given Iris's distinctive and very recognisable red hair). Hope people understand.

floating flower

I spotted this single rose earlier today floating in a quiet corner of the harbourside.
I clearly don’t know why it was there, but it seemed quite touching in its own way. Had it been cast into the water in memory of a dead partner? Or as a symbol of lost love or the end of an affair perhaps? Or a poignant offering of an unspoken or impossible love? Or a completely different reason?
Who knows?
A sad secret message in the water.
I ended up singing bits of Joni Mitchell’s “Roses Blue” on my way home:
“I think of tears, I think of rain on shingles
I think of rain, I think of roses blue…”
(fortunately, I don't think anyone heard me!).

Photo: the rose IS floating - the harbourside is just VERY grey in colour!

Bloomin Big Boat in Bristol…

Rosa+I had just finished our Monday morning coffee/orange juice+cake mid-morning break in the wonderful No.1 Harbourside Café (as you do) and were making our way to catch the small ferry across to the SS Great Britain when we suddenly became aware of an enormous boat making its way around the Capricorn Quay bend (accompanied by two tugs/barges). As you can see from the photograph, it absolutely dwarfed the SS Great Britain (even allowing for perspective!) and caused quite a stir amongst passing swans and pedestrians. I’ve checked the local news sites, but couldn’t find any reference to today’s visit (despite rumours that I’d bought it for Moira’s birthday). Thanks to Google (what WOULD we do without it?), “The Super Yacht Times”(!) provides the following key details: “The fabulous 74 metre yacht Mogambo is available for charter through the Hill Robinson Antibes office. Mogambo accommodates up to 12 guests with a spectacular Master Suite on the main deck which includes a private terrace, a VIP cabin on the bridge deck plus two double and two convertible cabins on the lower deck. Designed by Reymond Langton, Mogambo’s sleek and contemporary interior is a sensational blend of sophistication and extravagance which is certain to please even the most discerning guest. The sun deck features an air conditioned gym, Jacuzzi and on the lower deck, the beach club with sauna, steam room, massage room and rain shower all open onto the swim platform. Mogambo features Quantum zero speed stabilisers and is capable of a remarkably smooth and quiet 17.5 knots. With a 12m Novurania Chase tender and a 7.5m Novurania Launch tender, guests are taken ashore in style and comfort”.
I have to say, it seems somewhat farcical that this ENORMOUS boat only accommodates “up to 12 guests” (plus 19 crew)… but what do I know? It probably belongs to George Osborne.
Steve Broadway… Channel Four News… Bristol.
Photo: SS Great Britain and Mogambo.

PS: double click on image to view larger.

john+laura...

This has been a week of catch-ups. After meeting up with Alan+Lesley and then John+Jean-Anne in Cornwall, it was great to get together with John+Laura in Bristol over the weekend (John was a Town Planning student back in our Oxford college days). We’d last seen them just before we moved to Bristol in 2003, so we had LOTS to discuss – retirement, old friends, families and the like. The sun shone and Bristol looked good!
A lovely weekend.

Photo: Laura, Steve, John+Laura enjoying Saturday breakfast at Bordeaux Quay.

st ives wiv me bruvva… (and lesley+moira!)

Moira+I absolutely adore St Ives. We didn’t think we’d be able to get there in 2012 (we were last there in 2009) but then, a few weeks ago, received an invitation from my lovely brother Alan (and Lesley!) to join them for a couple of days. We’ve just got back – after a really relaxing time: walking, talking, eating, drinking, reading, chilling (you get the general idea)… so good to be able to have an opportunity for the four of us to “hang out” together. The excellent place we stayed is owned by one of my brother’s friends and is in a very different location to our former “holiday homes” in the town (which have been on Porthmeor Beach) – on one of the hillsides at the “station end” of the town (about a 5 minute walk to Porthminster Beach), with views across St Ives Bay. The weather was pretty kind to us. As well as the excellent company(!), I particularly enjoyed mooching from beach to beach; the dawn walk along Porthminster Beach on a bright, sunny morning; our usual coastal walk towards Zenner; wandering through the largely deserted streets; and, of course, The Tate Café – although the exhibition itself was somewhat disappointing.
A magical time.
Photo: wooden tables on Porthminster Beach (I love the colour combinations).
PS: A real bonus was lunch with Jean-Anne and John in Truro on our homeward journey – they’d been neighbours from Percy Street, Oxford days (and went on to have three daughters too). Bizarrely, although we’d exchanged Christmas letters, we hadn’t actually seen them for something like 30 years!! It was lovely to meet up again.

bird on the wire

For the past two weeks or so, I’ve been aware of birdsong from the moment I awake (usually just after 5am). This isn’t mass, dawn chorus birdsong, this is the song of just one bird – a blackbird. He (I'm pretty sure it's male) starts somewhat slowly but, within a quarter-of-an-hour, is in full song. He usually just sits on a telegraph wire and sings to his heart’s content (well, that’s how it comes across to me!) - for some THREE solid hours. In fact, I suspect he sings for longer than this, but I’m just doing other things and am not around to witness it. I occasionally catch his song again in the evening (last night, for instance, he sang for at least an hour before dark). According to the RSPB website: “Blackbirds tend to be solitary birds… Male blackbirds establish a territory during their first year, which they will hold throughout their lives”.
It really is rather beautiful.
It’s made me realise that there are so many things that go on around us which we fail to notice. Over the years, I think I’ve become much better at “learning to look” and noticing my surroundings, but the blackbird has reminded me that we also need to listen!
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
(lyrics Paul McCartney, 1968)
Photo: pretty poor pic of “our” wonderful songbird in action.

painting again again…

If you’ve read my blog recently(!), you MIGHT recall that I’ve been painting again – after a brief 42 year gap! Well, I’ve just finished my second painting (again in homage to my inspirational tutor Tom Porter – bold and “challengingly” colourful), entitled “Deckchairs for Tom2” – 60x60cm, acrylic - and identical to no.1 in composition.
My “technique” is very ropey and the paintings are definitely best viewed through half-closed eyes for the most beneficial effect(!) but, again, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the process.
PS: after watching the recent (wonderful) documentary on Lucian Freud, I was almost tempted to produce a close-up, “warts-and-all”, self portrait (I think my haggard, lined face – especially first thing in the morning according to the bathroom mirror!) for my next painting, but don’t think the art world is quite ready for this yet… instead, maybe something building-related next?
Photo: Deckchairs for Tom1+2

the dangerous method

Gareth, Alan+I went along to the Watershed yesterday afternoon (Moira wasn’t feeling well, so decided to give it a miss) to see David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method”. It’s the story of the relationship between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and his powerful mentor Sigmund Freud Viggo Mortensen) – complicated by a sado-masochistic affair between Jung and a sexually disturbed, intelligent young woman, Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley). The performances by all the leading actors were excellent (although I wasn’t quite convinced about Knightley’s accent). However, whilst I found the film’s look at the early days of psychoanalysis both objective and historical – I also felt it was strangely ordinary (some might say it was nothing more than an opportunity for the celebrated director to explore his longstanding interest in Freud… and perhaps to provide images of Fassbender spanking Knightley!)?
Even more strangely(?), at various points in the film, I found myself thinking that Keira Knightly would make an excellent Frida Kahlo!!

february books

The Accidental (Ali Smith): This is our Book Group’s latest book. It was nominated for the Mann Booker Prize in 2005, so I had reasonably high hopes. It’s about a family of four on holiday in Norfolk and the sudden appearance of a mystery woman (an angel? a charlatan?) and the effect she has on the lives of each of the family members. I liked the writing style (each character “tells” their story in the third person – although I found the children’s accounts more compelling). It’s frequently funny and inventive; it’s well-observed, well-written and somewhat haunting in nature. The conclusion could be seen as a new beginning perhaps? But ultimately, for me (and despite some apparent rave reviews), I found the book unsatisfying. Sorry.
As If (Blake Morrison): Morrison attended the infamous trial in 1993 when two 10 year-old boys were found guilty of murdering 2 year-old James Bulger. This is a book of his reflections – full of compassion, honesty and humanity. It deals with the brutal details of the case, but probes the state of childhood (and parenthood) today. It’s beautifully written (I DO like Morrison’s stuff!) and it’s brave and thought-provoking. If it’s possible to “enjoy” such a book, I certainly did.
Starting Over (Tony Parsons): I’ve read a couple of Parsons’s other books and enjoyed them in an entertaining, light, holiday-reading type of way. This one really isn’t any different - it deals with a 47 year-old man who is given the heart of a 19 year-old and the resulting effects on his life, his family, his aspirations and the way he sees the world – but probably tries to be a little too profound for its own good at times.
Bristol’s Floating Harbour (Peter Malpass+Andy King): This illustrated book tells the history (well, the first 200 years) of the city’s floating harbour. I had already gleaned or read up about it from a variety of other sources, but this fascinating book certainly highlighted the several large gaps in my knowledge! An excellent, informative book that I know I’ll keep referring to over the coming years.
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things (Jon McGregor): This is a simply beautiful book. I absolutely loved McGregor’s intricately-observed, elegant writing style. The book recounts the hopes, fears and unspoken despairs of a diverse, but ordinary, community in the north of England – when a terrible event shatters the quiet of the summer evening. All the more remarkable is the fact that McGregor was just 26 when the book was a Booker Prize nomination in 2002. I frequently struggle with fiction but have been fortunate to have read three excellent novels (“Freedom”, “A Visit from the Goon Squad” and this one) already this year. I’m on a roll!

the killing 1+2

Moira and I have just finished watching the Bafta award-winning “The Killing 1” (via Hannah+Fee’s boxset - albeit out of order, as I’d already watched the second season on the BBC!). With 20 one hour(?) episodes , it felt like a mammoth undertaking – but quite brilliant and very well worth it. If you haven’t previously come across the series, it’s about Danish detective Sarah Lund, wonderfully played by Sofie Grabol, as she and her colleagues try to track down the killer of a 19 year-old student who is found raped and brutally murdered. Full of political intrigue, struggling family situations, false leads and an obsessive detective!
Absolutely compelling.
PS: from the television series, one gets the impression that Denmark must be a very ecological nation – it seems that that they hardly ever turn lights on! The entire series seems to have been shot in the gloomiest of light (police invariably search properties without flicking the light switches!). Moira spent much of the time pleading with the characters to “turn on the lights!”… but, of course, they never did.
PPS: Having now watched the complete “West Wing” series, “Borgen” and now “The Killing”, I’m now left with that empty/mourning feeling as far as TV is concerned… suggestions please?

remember, we’re all in this together (episode 27)…

I’m not an economist or a politician (what a surprise). Although I ran a “successful” architectural practice for nearly 30 years, I probably have a somewhat naïve approach when it comes to finance (and understanding finance). I think I’ve probably inherited a rather Victorian attitude when it comes to work/remuneration and take exception to what I regard to excess or greed. I think the recent Occupy protest movements were a powerful expression of this (“we are the 99%”) - against the growing income inequality and wealth distribution between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population.
I was therefore depressed to read a report in yesterday’s Guardian that the AVERAGE pay for the 24,000 bankers working for BarCap (Barclays Capital investment Bank) was just a paltry £200,000 last year (and that the average bonus for these poor workers was down 30% to a mere £64,000). Somewhat predictably, Barclays Bank chief Bob Diamond (note: he’s currently refusing to disclose his own bonus from last year – speculation puts it anything from £3-10million!) has been quick to defend the situation, saying that it was important to "celebrate rewards for success or then we won't have an economy". Of course! It seems that, despite receiving biggest taxpayer-funded bailout in history, nothing much has changed in the banking world.
I think the time has come for us to switch our own bank current account from one of the big banks - according to Ethical Consumer magazine, ours has an “ethiscore” of just 1.5 out of 20 (note: if you thought that was bad, the same magazine gives Barclays an “ethiscore” of 0.5 out of 20!) - to a more “ethical” bank (eg. Co-operative 13/20, Triodos 15.5/20 or Charity Bank 16/20?).
The Occupy Wall Street movement in the USA encouraged more than 40,000 people to switch their bank accounts last November. Next month, Move Your Money launches a similar campaign here in the UK (under the catchphrase “bank on something better”).
Perhaps it’s time for us all to switch our money?
PS: It’s not just bankers, obviously. Here in Bristol, there’s a move by the Taxpayers Alliance to cut the salary of Bristol City Council’s chief executive from £190,000 to £150,000 to "bring it in line" with similar posts.

PPS: click on the image to enlarge!

hockney+grayson perry

Moira+I have just returned from a couple of days in London, seeing the Hockney and Grayson Perry exhibitions. We had a lovely time.
The “David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture” exhibition at the Royal Academy (until 9 April) essentially concentrates on his landscape paintings of East Yorkshire. Vivid, crude, colourful, naïve, sensitive, inspiring, quick, overwhelming, ambitious, captivating, changing, productive, repetitive, rhythm, beguiling, beautiful, massive, fresh, spellbinding, pleasurable and inventive. In truth, for me, this is not exactly the Hockney stuff that I absolutely adore, but it DOES provide an amazing artistic experience and, for many, it will encourage and inspire people to “learn to look” at things in a new, fresh way. Not to be missed!
Grayson Perry’s “Tomb of the Unknown Craftsman” exhibition at the British Museum (extended until 26 February) combines his own work with work he has selected from the British Museum’s collection. I enjoyed the way his teddy bear Alan Measles cropped up in various pieces (although perhaps rather too many pieces?) and I particularly loved his decorated ceramics. For me, the highlights were his iron sculptures of male and female pilgrims (with their overwhelming load of sewing machines, guns, handbags, petrol cans, mobile phone necklaces, radios and babies). It’s essentially a show of wonderful things and it truly is quite wonderful. Fascinating, entertaining and inspiring.

gail+steve birthday festival

My birthday celebrations started last Thursday afternoon, when Iris+Rosa (+Ruth+Stu) insisted on having a small tea party. Before we polished off the muffins, the chocolate brownies and the lemon drizzle cake (made by Stu’s fair hands), Iris organised some of pre-party snacks in the shape of lollipop sweets and Cheerios (originally, I understand that we were meant to be having “Love Heart” sweets, but there weren’t any at home so she felt Cheerios would make a good substitute!). Bless her.
Great friend Gail and I celebrate our birthdays just three days apart (but she's a good deal younger!) and, largely thanks to Gail, our birthdays seem now to have become annual birthday festivals!
We’ve just returned from a brilliant weekend in Devon – staying with Gail+Ian (and also joined by lovely friends Ken+Debby)(and also meeting up with yet more lovely friends Mags+Jez and Sam+Jackie). As you might imagine, it’s been a weekend dominated by food and drink (plus walks, lots of chat and plenty of laughter)… lunches (yesterday at the impressive River Cottage Canteen, Plymouth), brunches (today at the excellent Beachhouse hut , South Milton Sands) and brilliant suppers (at Gail+Ian’s).
A very special, magical birthday festival!

PS: oh yes, there was also the little matter of a Scotland/England rugby match…
Photo: the “gang” at the River Cottage Canteen (Moira, Jackie, Gail, Ken, Ian, Jez [blocking Debby!], Sam+Mags) – yes, I accept that we do all look very serious, but I assure you that this was purely for the photo!

cost of democracy?

I was listening to the BBC World Service the other night, as you do…
They were talking about Mitt Romney’s victory in the Florida primary. The pundit in the studio was asked what was required to win elections and she responded that you needed a) to spend enough on advertising and b) to have an effective negative campaign against key opponents. She went on to explain that Romney’s advertising in Florida had amounted to something like $18million dollars.
I just couldn’t believe my ears!
Just a few moments later, I was well and truly shaken from my “slumbers” when one of the other studio guests pointed out that he understood that the Democrats were likely to be able raise $1BILLION for Barack Obama’s “Re-election Fighting Fund”!!
Surely, I’d misheard?
Well, I decided to try to check this out.
According to a report from Reuters (last August), this year’s US elections will be the most expensive ever, with a total price tag of $6billion or even more, “fuelled by millions of dollars in unrestricted donations as Republicans and Democrats vie for control of the White House, Congress and state governments”.
I’ll type out the figure again: Yes, $6BILLION. Just staggering!
In the UK, overall general election expenditure is far, far less than in the USA - yes, I accept that we’re a tiny nation by comparison. Apparently, in 2009, the figure was just over £30million (it was just over £40million in 2005). Even these levels seem pretty ridiculous to me!
Somewhat pathetically, perhaps, I’m one of those naive people who feel that elections should be about “level playing fields” and that people’s votes shouldn’t be dependent on advertising and/or private funding. Having said that, I absolutely accept that, in this country for example, it would be awful if the BNP were “given” the same election funding as the main parties!
No doubt people will tell me that all these vast sums actually go to pay party workers, advertising companies and the like. But, it seems to me that at a time when individuals are suffering in terms of unemployment and financial cut-backs and when money is being taken away from education, health, welfare, environment etc etc, don’t the amounts spent on elections seem embarrassing, excessive and unjustifiable?
PS: It’s JUST possible that the USA/UK figures I’ve quoted are not strictly comparable… but, even if that’s right, I’m sure the numbers will be VERY large!

villa sign new defender before transfer deadline…

With their 2-3 defeat by Arsenal in the FA Cup, Villa’s season is now well and truly over (apart from the battle to avoid relegation!).
The Villa’s defence seems incapable of keeping clean sheets these days.
But worry not, help is at hand.
In an astute move, with only hours to go before the transfer deadline, Villa have signed Dan Buckley (see photo), a promising young defender – who has already been tipped to play for England!
If only, (although they should keep an eye on him for the future!)…
When Alice+Dave got married, I gave them a junior Villa shirt for one of their future offspring (in the knowledge that Dave would insist on them becoming ManU supporters!). Alice has just sent me these photographs of Dan wearing the aforementioned shirt… the rest, as they say, will be history!!
Photo: Dan Buckley, ace defender.
PS: When A+D got married, David Beckham had just left ManU and so I speculated that, at some stage in the future, the Villa would snap him up (hence the number 23 shirt and the “Becks” name!).

january books

A Visit from the Goon Squad (Jennifer Egan): I finished this book on the first day of the new year. It seemed like the perfect book for this time of year – a time for reflection and looking forward (and especially, for me, following retirement and also after catching up with some old friends fairly recently – either “in the flesh”, as it were, or via FB). It’s a book about memory and friendship, life stories, opportunities lost and gained and about interconnection. It took me a little time to get into the book, but I was gradually won over. I ended up loving it – it’s an absolutely charming book (literally).
Free Radical: A Memoir (Vince Cable): I generally admire Cable; he seems to be an “honest” politician and a decent bloke. In the book, as well as politics, he talks touchingly about his family – especially the death of his first wife from cancer in 1998. Over perhaps the past four years, he has become the “holy grail of economic comment” (as the Guardian once described him). The book provides frank accounts of his life (including his time working in India and with Shell) – but I was struck by the number of poor decisions he consistently seems to have made throughout his life (especially when it came to trying to get himself elected as an MP!). He is pretty scathing about Gordon Brown’s performance as PM and also about George Osborne (“I have never rated George’s understanding of financial and economic matters”) – although he does acknowledge the latter to be a “political operator of some substance”. Inevitably, there is a hint of “I told you so” in the concluding chapter (essentially referring to the “stormy waters” of the global economic crisis) – although I haven’t been desperately impressed by his performance as Business Secretary in the current coalition!
Freedom (Jonathan Franzen): I thought this was a brilliant novel. It’s a (very long book) about a marriage (and contemporary American life?) - about its joys, frustrations and disappointments. But it’s far more than that. It’s about pride, jealousy, resentment, politics, big business, greed, ecology, sex, honesty, inadequacy, relationships, society, education, risk, delight, truth, compromise, falsehood, lifestyle… I could go on! It’s funny, it’s scathing, it’s poignant and, in my view, it’s a book you NEED to read (it’s VERY readable)! I now definitely want to read Franzen’s highly-acclaimed “The Corrections”.
The Tyrannicide Brief (Geoffrey Robertson): Due to the peculiarities of the fast-tracked “Remove” stream at my grammar school, I was sadly forced to give up History at the end of my first year of secondary education(!). As a result, my knowledge of 17th century British history is sadly lacking. This book, by eminent human-rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, tells the story of the little-known John Cooke - the lawyer who essentially “sent Charles I to the scaffold”. It’s an absolutely fascinating and impassioned story of a landmark prosecution based on the King’s “tyranny” (depriving his subjects of their civil rights and mass murder on a vast scale). Robertson argues that Cooke has been widely misrepresented by history. When Charles's son was restored to the throne, soon after the death of Cromwell, his father's trial was seen as an act of treason and his legal execution as murder. Cooke's prosecution for these crimes was duly rigged and Charles II attended the disembowelling of Cooke, still alive after he had been part-hanged and castrated. A brilliant book.
A Moveable Feast (Ernest Hemingway): “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast”. I really enjoyed this short set of memoirs written by Hemingway (completed in 1960) about his time as a young writer living in Paris in the 1920s. It’s an evocative, often funny, sometimes rather cruel, account of his daily routines, his lack of funds and the people he met (including F Scott Fitzgerald, Ford Madox Ford, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, Hilaire Belloc and Gertrude Stein) in the bars and cafes of the city. His descriptions are quite brilliant and the pieces about FSF, in particular, very amusing.

anyone can teach… can’t they?

I blogged about this last September…
I have absolutely no doubt that some former members of the armed forces have much to offer the world of education, but I was saddened this morning to see reports of a proposed school for 11-18 year-olds in Oldham where ALL the teaching staff will be composed of ex-servicemen and women. The school is now actively recruiting prospective pupils with a view to opening next year. Worryingly (and I can’t quite believe that this can be true?), according to Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, many ex-servicemen and women at the Phoenix Free School will have had no formal teacher training: “Turning soldiers into teachers with no training is like trying to turn teachers into soldiers with no training… They seem to believe routine drills and discipline is what these children need. Well, some of them may need it, but not all of them will”.
When I turned 50, I was briefly tempted by the idea of becoming a (primary school) teacher. Having worked closely with teachers in secondary education, I am now relieved that I didn’t. Not EVERYONE can be an effective teacher – and there are key skills that all teachers DO have to LEARN. Very many of my school colleagues were quite BRILLIANT teachers – knowledgeable, intelligent, inspirational, gifted, enthusiastic, intuitive and able to communicate a love for their subject to pupils. The Phoenix project is applying for state funding as a free school which would be run outside of local authority control (of course!) and has the backing of Michael Gove (of course!). To my mind, a school which bases its education philosophy on the core values of the armed forces sounds worrying, to say the least!
I suggest you check out this report on today’s BBC website.
Photo: I couldn’t resist this photograph (and I’m only joking)!

harbourside market: last january sale day

Would you buy art from this bloke?
Received this image from good friends Nigel+Janice earlier this week. It was taken at our market stall just before Christmas. Nigel’s e-mail included some words of wisdom, describing me as “a more refined Guardian reading version of Ray Winstone?”!
Yesterday was the second, and last, of my “January Sale Days” of photographs and drawings that were “past their sell-by date” or had just be lying around in boxes in the basement. Although I’d reduced the prices pretty drastically it was very gratifying that, over the two Saturdays, I sold more than half of my 114 “old pieces” (pretty amazing!).
I’ve really enjoyed being a market stallholder but, with various other weekend activities coming up plus my forthcoming two month trip to Iona (and a desire to avoid sitting out in the cold for six hours every Saturday), I’ve decided to opt out of the Harbourside Market until July and reclaim my Saturdays for a while!
Photo: the Ray Winstone of Bristol Harbourside Market?

painting again...

One of my retirement resolutions was to get down to doing some painting again. Yes, I’ve done lots of drawings that have included watercolour paints, inks and the like, but the last REAL painting I did was completed some 42 years ago! The main stimulus for wanting to paint again was the memory/influence of one of my former tutors at Oxford School of Architecture – the truly inspirational Tom Porter (who sadly died in 2010, aged 72). He just adored “colour” and encouraged us to use it boldly whenever we undertook our painting projects (which, for me, proved to be important in the first two years of the architecture course). One of my paintings was used for an exhibition poster for the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Sadly, I no longer have any of my college paintings (one of them, painted on chipboard, ended up as the roof hatch to the loft space in our Percy Street house, Oxford – and will, no doubt, have made a fortune for one of its subsequent owners!). In homage to Tom, my first painting (entitled: “Deckchairs for Tom 1”) duly makes use of “bold colour” – and is the first time I’ve ever painted on canvas (60x60cm) OR used acrylic paint. My painting technique is incredibly rusty after all these years (it was never wonderful!) and the result is hardly a “work of art” in terms of quality or composition – but I really enjoyed doing it (playing my music and generally making a mess of my basement workspace) and, hopefully, will continue to paint over the coming years. As a demonstration of this commitment to undertaking more paintings, I went out this morning and bought three more canvases (they were on offer!)!
Photo: one down… three to go (well, actually, I’ve only got plans for painting no.2 thus far)?

retirement review

Amazingly, it’s coming up for six months since I retired. Last January, I posted three blogs entitled “Looking Forward to Retirement” in which I outlined my hopes (and fears) as I approached the end of my “working life”. I’ve been vaguely reviewing things over the past few days. The following represents a very quick résumé of my thoughts (under the “sub-headings” of my earlier blogs on the subject):
FINANCE:
We seem to be keeping our heads above water - but it’s very early days.
BOREDOM:
Will I be bored by retirement? Well, no this hasn’t happened (apart from perhaps a couple of days that I just seemed to fritter away unsatisfactorily). I’ve continued to wake early at around 5am, got myself some coffee and breakfast and then, more often than not, read in bed for an hour or so.
HEALTH:
I’m still in good health, touch wood (and the hip pain I referred to last year has, thankfully, disappeared).
PEOPLE:
I did worry that I would miss the daily exchanges and banter with lots of other people – and, although I do miss this, it’s been fine (and I try to catch up with former school colleagues on a regular basis – at The Warwick Arms on a Friday afternoon, for example!).
GOLF:
I’ve only played three times since I retired, but each time has been with some of my “old golf buddies” (Pete, Steve, Ken and Bob) – which has been really lovely. Particularly enjoyed a two-day trip to Celtic Manor in October and the “Bob Head Classic” in November.
WORLD TRAVEL/TRAVEL:
Nothing exactly on the world travel front (and that’s fine – we don’t have any particular yearnings) – although Moira+I did have a wonderful time in France with great friends Chris+Lal (does that count?)… and Moira+I have been talking about another possible Venice trip to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary (next December).
VOLUNTARY WORK:
I decided to ensure that I didn’t commit myself to any voluntary work for at least the first six months of my retirement (and I’m glad I’d done that because it gave me time to adjust to a different “way of life”). Having said that, I have re-joined our local Arts Trail’s steering group – but that’s no problem. I did also apply for an 8-week stint with the Iona Community last July (knowing that a) I wouldn’t hear back from them until this month and b) that the chances of my being selected weren’t particularly high). Last week, I was absolutely delighted to have heard back from the Community – and will be joining them on the beautiful Isle of Iona for a couple of months, starting at the beginning of May.
MUSIC, THEATRE+CINEMA:
I’ve been enjoying these! Music: concerts by Chris Wood and June Tabor; theatre: Royal Shakespeare Company (and Felix will be performing with them this year too: “Twelfth Night”, “The Tempest” and “Comedy of Errors”) and also Tobacco Factory Theatre and the Bristol Old Vic; cinema: just getting back to attending more regularly (have really enjoyed “The Artist” and “We Need To Talk About Kevin”).
SPORT (apart from golf):
Well, I DID manage to get to Taunton (with Chris, Bron and Roger) to watch Somerset play Lancashire – which was very enjoyable. Will definitely be watching more cricket in 2012.
FREEDOM+FLEXIBILITY+SIMPLE PLEASURES/WALKING:
I’ve continued to take pleasure in getting up early and taking full advantage of what I’ve always felt was “the best of the day” – highlights to date have been brilliant sunrises at Glastonbury and Berrow Beach. I’ve tried to keep to my plan of taking daily walks to help keep me fit (no cycling recently though!). I haven’t yet arranged to do any of the Dorset Coastal Walk thus far or finished the Thames Path.
GRANDCHILDREN:
I’ve continued to adore grandparenthood. Being with Mikey, Iris, Dan, Rosa+Jemima gives me SO much pleasure and the arrival of Hannah+Felix’s Ursula just before Christmas has been a brilliant bonus!! I definitely want to see much more of Mikey, Dan+Jemima (and Alice+Dave!) and will hopefully do so over coming year.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
This has also continued to be a source of great pleasure for me – and I try to carry my camera with me everywhere.
DRAWING+PAINTING:
Well, I HAVE actually done some painting (for the first time “properly” since 1970!!)… and on canvas! I’ve also got some plans for a drawing project (essentially, building-related?).
GARDENING:
No real progress on this to date!
PROJECTS:
Still pending, I’m afraid (apart from painting and drawing).
SPIRITUALITY/RHYTHM OF LIFE:
I’m really looking forward to going to the Isle of Iona again this year – that will hopefully give me some time for reflection and to explore aspects of my own spiritual life. Book study has been somewhat limited: further use of Ian Adams’s excellent “Cave Refectory Road: monastic rhythms for contemporary living” plus The Accidental Pilgrim (Maggi Dawn, Salvation on the Small Screen? (Nadia Bolz-Weber), Thinking Out Loud (John L Bell) and Words and Wonderings (Joy Mead). Our weekly “Ithaca” group continues to provide stimulus and food for thought.
FRIENDS:
Some progress made, but lots still to do! Great to meet up again with Tony (and prospects of impending lunch with Charles and Steve) and plans to meet up with John+Laura after simply ages. Very good (as always) to keep up with Ian, Gail, Ken, Debby, Jez and Mags – plus, obviously, local friends. A possible re-union of old college friends is on the cards for 2012.
OTHER STUFF:
The Saturday Harbourside Market: has been a real bonus – I’ve really enjoyed it (haven’t made a fortune sales-wise, but the “craic” has been very enjoyable).

No.1 Harbourside Cafe/Bar has become my regular coffee stop and they make me feel very welcome.
Reading: has proved to be a continuing pleasure (I read over 50 books in 2011!).

Moira also reckons she's enjoying her retirement much more since I retired - which is lovely.
Photo: sunrise at Glastonbury, October 2011.

bristol harbourside market

I had another enjoyable day at the harbourside market yesterday (beautiful weather, despite starting off at minus 2C!)… and I'm very grateful for lots of friends dropping by to say hello, including: Tracey, Richard, Maria, Liz, Lou, Paul, Hroth, Emily, Loz and Nick (but sorry I missed you!)… and probably a few other wonderful, lovely people who I’ve forgotten!
After some four months of Saturday markets, running up to Christmas, I’d decided to have a break until the summer (with perhaps one or two exceptions). However, before doing so, I made a commitment to myself to have a couple of “January Sales” sessions. I’d become aware of just how many old mounted photographs/drawings I’d accumulated (and not sold!) over recent years – and that it was probably time I got rid of them!
It transpired that I actually had 114 pieces of work (I counted them!) and so yesterday was the first of my two “studio clearance days” (complete with banner explaining this to the punters!). I decided to put a £5 pricetag on all of the photographs and £15 on the drawings/paintings. In the end, I sold a total of 35 pieces of work - 34 photos and one drawing (the latter, one of my favourites, reduced from £50 – actually, I’ve just realised that it’s the one at the bottom right hand side of my photograph)).
It’s given me much food for thought:
• It’s NOT worth trying to sell one-off original drawings/paintings for £15 (despite them not selling anyway!) – I feel it devalues their true worth (doesn’t that sound pretentious!!).
• However, it has made me think again about the pricing of my photographs. Although I always note that each of them are one of a series of 10, I only occasionally ever print more than two or three copies. Maybe I SHOULD consciously be prepared to produce a number of mounted prints and sell them “cheap” (on the basis that I would therefore sell more?)?
• I probably couldn’t sustain a cost as low as £5, but maybe £10 (ie. less than “normal” price of £15)?
• Was yesterday just a one-off? It’ll be interesting to see how next Saturday’s market goes (the last of my “January Sales”).
• Were people only buying on the basis that they felt they were getting a good deal?
• Were people only buying on the basis that it was a “Sale” and that they mustn’t miss a “bargain”?
Photo: our hall at home in preparation for the “Sale”.
PS: No less than SEVEN of my photographs ended up in the hands of ONE family! First of all I had a 15 year-old(?) coming up to me and saying how much she loved the photos… then her mother appears and tells me that her daughter is desperate to pursue photography as a career and wanted me to advise her what she should do to achieve this (clearly, I had to explain that I hadn’t a clue!)(but I WAS very encouraging). The daughter ended up buying four photographs and then, about 10 minutes later, her aunt returned with the girl’s mother and bought three more images!! Very sweet… and slightly embarrassing. In 20 years time, the girl will probably be giving interviews to respected journalists explaining her successful career in photography can all be put down to a conversation with an old bloke at a Bristol market stall…

the artist

Forget “The Iron Lady” – THIS is the film you need to see!
Moira+I went the Watershed this afternoon to see this wonderful, uplifting, funny, clever film - set in Hollywood of the 1920s. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius and filmed in black+white, it’s an ode to silent movies and has no script; the two excellent stars are Jean Dujardin (George) and Berenice Bejo (Peppy). It was absolutely lovely and deserves to take a whole host of awards over the coming months.
My best film of 2012 – well, ok, it’s the ONLY film I’ve seen at the cinema this year but, rest assured, it WILL remain one of my top films of the year.
It’s also one of those films you will NEED to own on DVD to cheer you up on wet Sunday afternoons over the coming years!

happy new year!

Moira+I have been very blessed again this year.
My highlights/simple pleasures have included:
• Recent birth of Ursula to Hannah+Felix.
• Thankful for our wonderful family and all the fun+laughter that comes with grandparenthood.
• Regular contact and get-togethers with special friends (and meeting up with some old friends after many years).
• “Proper” retirement in July (and the amazingly generous gift/farewells from his lovely work friends) and seeing Moira now fully enjoying her retirement (despite having me around much more!).
• Trip to France with great friends Lal and Chris on their Dutch barge on the Burgundy Canal/River Yonne, followed by an excellent weekend in Paris.
• Dawn trips to Glastonbury Tor and Berrow beach on gloriously sunny mornings.
• Sleep-overs and playdays with Iris+Rosa.
• Two-day golf trip to Celtic Manor with “old” (literally!) golfing buddies.
• Saturday morning stall at the harbourside market.
• Lots of reading (including regular morning coffee trips to no.1 Harbourside Café/Bar armed with my latest book).
• Live performance (theatre and concerts) – especially being able to see Felix perform three times at the RSC in Stratford.
• Continuing to meet up with former school colleagues (especially at the Warwick Arms “library”!).
• Watching the sunset over Sand Bay.
• Handling some of Turner’s watercolours at the Ashmolian.
• Watching some “live” cricket again.
• Regular walks by the harbourside.
• “Wow, Gorilla!” public art event in Bristol over the summer months (and the Harbourside Festival).
PS: I just KNOW that I will have missed noting SEVERAL other things from the above list (let’s just put it down to old age!).