Tony Shelley - Thoughts - Feelings - Words - Images

A New Start

2010-12-01T09:43:00.001-08:00

For a while now, I have tried to keep this blog updated on a regular basis and quite honestly I've failed, big time. Well, times up on that, things are going to change and here's the deal. THIS BLOG, is going to have ONE entry per month, either on the first or second day. There is to be no more ranting, no half-hearted attempts at being a pundit, from now on, whatever appears will be thoughtfully laid out in front of you, to read, enjoy, criticise, pull to bits and hopefully you will leave a challenging comment for me to think and ponder on in the intervening weeks.

This is all part of slimming down my routine. I've already ditched FACE BOOK, which has become for me anyway, a complete waste of time. Problem was and is that social networking is addictive, and being a one-time active addict, it was sucking me in for all the wrong reasons. Plus (and even worse), my writing was suffering and 'blocks' appeared in every direction I cast my pen, (get me outta here man). So in a nutshell, there you have it. But I need YOU, readers whoever you are to keep me on my toes, and if you think I'm chirping crap, write and say so (no offence taken dude).

Have a wonderful, lively, happy Christmas, a productive new year, and I will be back, pronto, on January 1 2011.

The Second In Line

2010-11-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

I'm not a Royalist, never have been, never will be. I couldn't care less who get's hitched to , where or what. The thing I object to most in all the glare that is surrounding William and Kate, is the very thought that it should all be paid for out of the public purse. The Royal family have their own assets, so why is this question even being spilled into the public conscience?? My guess is that the media have let slip in the various gossip columns, that we, the tax payers really want to be part of this 'event', as 'we' all hold a deep affection for the Royal family.

That may be true in certain quarters, but for republicans like myself, the thought of podding out for the catering, security, champagne etc, is an abomination, when hundreds and thousands of people are about to loose their jobs, and possible their homes in the oncoming economic Armageddon. Have a wedding yes, let the paps shoot the images that will fill columns of the crappy press yes, But don't let Joe Public pick up the tab.

Morning Glory

2010-11-06T00:36:00.000-07:00

What is it about an Autumn morning that sets it apart from any other time of the year?. For me, it's the sense of absolute calm, a stillness, broken only by a flurry of yellow-brown leaves that carpet the pavements of in my case, the West End of Leicester U.K. But the one thing that's missing from my little bit of Heaven on earth, is the fog I used to experience as a child in the 60's on my way to a school I hated with all my heart. Where has all the fog vanished to?. Well in those days, most people had open fires, industry was fueled by coal, which shed it's outpourings via a Forrest of chimneys all over the city. I don't miss that in any shape or form. This is what happens you see, one glorious time of the year makes me ramble into the dreamland of nostalgia, so I'll shut the trap and take another walk.

All Together Now.

2010-10-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

George Osbourne cut a tragic figure today, as did Cameron leaning against the government front bench for support, the dispatch box being one of the few places of real support today as they rolled out a carpet of death nails, saying on more than one occasion, there is no other way. The figures are staggering, and as a local government employee, could I be one of the 'One In Ten' to be thrown on the scrapheap???, who knows.

But one thing is for certain, the real losers in all of this are the Lib Dems, selling out policy after policy just to sit at the top table, come the elections next May, they will be wiped out here, there and everywhere. I just wonder at the end of the day, will there be anybody left to administer anything??. But are the common people going to roll over and play dead, or are we looking over the English Channel into the high and back streets of France for inspiration?. Lots of questions, but no answers.

Last Orders Please

2010-09-21T13:22:00.001-07:00

In Leicester, as I guess elsewhere in the U.K., Public Houses have closed at such a quick rate, that bearly a week goes by when some pub somwhere, calls 'Last orders please' for the final time. But in Leicester, these closures have an unusual hostoric link with the past, for in High Cross Street, the old All Saints Brewery building, which dates back well over 100 years, is as I understand, to be turned into brickdust, as once again we are to loose another historic building. I only hope there are no plans to build a 'cafe' facility on the site, as that would be the final insult. Some of the pubs that have now been borded up like The Empire' and the 'Friar Tuck', both show here, were once the hub of close knit communities, and they themselves have vanished. I mourn this passing, for when I was a boy, I used to love walking by these places, and looking in the windows at the smoky, lively atmosphere but back then there was no 'menace' about the places. These days, like many others I frequent more cafes than pubs, for it's only in these places that I feel anything like 'safe'....a sad reflection on today's world.

The Brutal Truth

2010-09-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

This past week has been a bit of a 'downer'. My GP gave it to me with both barrels, "There is nothing that can be done for your back pain, it's a simple case of 'pain management'. I wonder who invented the term Pain Management?. Anyway I digress. It's what I expected really, and to be honest, things would be much better if I accepted the aging process instead of trying to fight off the inevitable. So, I've had a week of bending, stretching, thinking, writing in my journals, and I've come to the conclusion that in late middle age, I should rid myself of excess, relax and settle down to nice cups of tea, and settle into my passions of history, reading, writing, pinhole photography and enjoy the warmth, comfort and love of my truly wonderful family. There's a lot to be said for 'letting go', and ejecting all the things you don't need. By the way, this is 04.27am, can't sleep for the pain, but hey......it will be OK.

Oh We Roll On Roads, Over Fresh Green Grass

2010-09-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Most of what you see in this image is now buried under concrete and tarmac, lost in favour of another Park n' Ride which few people use. How much intricate wildlife and wonders of nature have been sacrificed, so people can be insulted by grumpy bus drivers, and being charged extortionate fares for the privilege. Progress people tell me, the future is set, you can't stop it. The sad fact is that most of that diatribe is true.
For my part, I will avoid this service like the plague, and use both my legs and trusty bike. to and from work. The sad irony is that this service might come to a halt given the present economic meltdown. Leaving yet another hard rubble desert to blight the edge of our countryside. Short term ism at its worst.

South Bound

2010-09-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

The great seaside town of the south beckons. and I'm off in search of one of the most neglected authors of the 20th century, Patrick Hamilton. Brighton figured more than once in Hamilton's books, hardly surprising really as he lived there at various times in his life. His masterpiece was undoubtedly 'Hangover Square', a grim yet brilliant account of obsession fuelled mostly by alcoholic drinking binges, set in a time of the rise of fascism, just before the outbreak of World War 2. However on this trip, I will be on the trail of one of his 'Gorse Trilogy' books, 'The West Pier'. The Pier itself, is now a disheveled wreak that is slowly but surely falling into the waves of the English Channel (see earlier blog), but through Hamilton's rich, dark, descriptive prose, I hope to make the pages come alive, and the characters likewise. Watch this space.

Visionary Tales

2010-08-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

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I may be wrong, but it seems to me that the great eastern town of Norwich have far more respect for their heritage than my hometown of Leicester. One prime example is the beautiful, mystical St. Julian's, which is located in St Julian's Alley, between King Street and Rouen Road in a rather plain district of Norwich. It was here that Julian of Norwich ( as she became known) lived the life of a recluse for the last forty years of her life. Julian was an Anchorite nun, and it was in a period of desperate illness, that she received the visions for which she became well known. It was on Sunday, March 8, 1373 when the 'divine revelations' began that were to change her life forever. There were sixteen in total which shown God in a more benevolent light, a God of love which was quite unusual at that time in history. The chapel itself is set near a car park, but manages to retain a sense of wonder and is well worth a visit whether you are a person of faith or not. And credit must be given to the City of Norwich, for maintaining this gemstone of history.

The Past Uncovered

2010-08-04T03:26:00.000-07:00

Last week, I was fortunate enough to be close up and personal with a microcosm of Medieval Leicester, recently uncovered, and seen through the scruffy glass of of an empty shop door in the Silver Arcade.

A kind passer-by told me I could get better shots by just moving a couple of metres and entering through another door, loosely held in place by two silver screws. I entered, closed the door behind me, and carefully avoiding the pigeon droppings and grime, walked backwards in time to the centre of a medieval courtyard.

Looking up at the leaded windows of this long forgotten timber framed building, I began to wonder how many people had looked down onto a world without medicine, running water, widespread communication, in a society that was rife with crime, plague sometimes famine where you were lucky to reach the age of 40.

The question is what is going to happen to this magnificent structure?. I truly quake with fear, when I look at recent events. is this like the Bow String Bridge, The Pump and Tap, Thomas Cooke building, to be evaporated in the name of progress. be aware Leicester City Council, the eyes of those who have a sense of history will be upon you.

In the meantime, I've included a couple of images from a trip to Wales last week. It's the grave marker for a daughter of a Roman Governer. or so I'm told. It now stands in the safety of a beautiful 19th century church, away from the erosive elements.

Sweeping Away The Past

2010-07-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

Pinned up at the side of my Apple Mac is a letter from the Planning Department of Leicester City Council. It's was a response to my objection to the impending destruction of of the Thomas Cook building in Granby Street.
It was as cold and soulless as I expected it to be, but the real downer is the fact that Leicester City Council, has no respect for the city's heritage, or the opinions of it's citizens. They trample over the city's historic landscape, like a giant bulldozer, out of control leaving giant gaps and empty spaces which they say are for 'major projects'.

It's nothing less than historical genocide, and they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. I applaud the Civic Society who have done everything in their power to raise awareness of this despicable act, and those that have been out on tyhe streets in protest. But the horror show is not to end in Granby Street, so I'm told. The next victim is to be the All Saints Brewery in High Cross Street, leaving yet another crater deep in the heart of a city rich with veins of history that dates back to the Roman occupation and beyond.

And if that goes, why not dig up the Abbey Ruins in Abbey Park, and sell the ancient stones, to a local mason, remove cardinal Wolsey's grave and build another bloody office black, or car park. That's the kind of thought process that everybody who cares about history is up against. Short sighted, treacherous, vandalism. Where will it all end?.

Dress Codes - Who Decides?

2010-07-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

Maybe my wife would disagree, but I'm usually quite a calm person, not given to quickness of temper, able to keep a cool head under pressure. However, I read something in the national press this week, echoed both on press and radio that France is to go ahead with the banning of the burqua in public places.

Firstly I'm disgusted by the fact that a European power would consider what is to me a breach of human rights. Secondly, that a particular garment worn by people of faith is seen as such a threat because I'm told, it doesn't 'fit in' with French society, whatever that means.

So, where does this end?, Shall we band Nuns and monks from wearing habits?, shall I remove both my crucifix and fish pendent from around my neck, becuase it doesn't fit in with our secular society?. If you can do one, you can do the other and in the blink of an eye we could end up living in a state akin to Orwell's 1984 nightmare. And what I find most appaling of all, is that the decision in France, was I would guess, decided by men.

This is 2010, and people should be allowed to wear what they like, where they like. Beware, they'll be coming for you next.

Stupid, Just Stupid

2010-07-15T11:24:00.001-07:00

All of this year, I've been listening to Radio 4's excellent series A History Of The World in 100 Objects. It's a joint venture between the BBC and The British Museum, and for me, is one of the greatest programmes ever to be broadcast over the airwaves.

Recently, I paid a visit to the Museum, and managed to see 45 of the 100 images, and had the most enjoyable day. That's why my blood boiled with anger this week when I read of the attack by so mindless yobs who doused the Easter Island head with oil in protest at BP's sponsorship of the project. Like most people I was horrified at the oil spillage of the Louisiana coast, but pathetic vandalism is not the way to vent your feelings.

Lobby your MP, write to BP, stand outside their office and protest peacefully. but don't slip into the sewer mentality by defacing a works of art or historical objects just to gain cheap publicity, and that's what this was..cheap, nasty and utterly pointless.

The Party's Over

2010-07-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, while I was 'offline from blogging' I cut into eight tiny pieces, my membership card to the Liberal Democrats. From the moment of inception, the new coalition government has done nothing but compromise their principles for possibly the most addictive drug known to humankind......POWER.

For me personally this is a step too far, and I'm disgusted at the Lib Dems (quite rightly called 'Con-Dems' in the MORNING STAR newspaper) for selling out, values to which they once held dear, or so they told us. It all leaves a very bad taste in my mouth, and I truly wonder what will happen to the party, come the next election. Having said all that, on a local level, I will without question support my local councilor, Lib Dem Peter Coley, who is and has been for many years, an outstanding and hard working member of our community. The same can be said for Roger Blackmore, who is to retire his council post next year.

Still on the political front, I wrote to the Morning Star this week, arguing that Bob Crow should not walk out of the coming TUC conference when the PM David Cameron is due to appear there, by invitation. Mr Crow was quick to respond, which has made me a very happy man. If you are interested to see both his and my letters, just follow the link from this blog site.

Echos From The Mango

2010-06-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

In the early part of this century, before I got married, a good part of my recreation time was spent at the ICE MANGO Internet cafe in Leicester's popular market place. It was here that I first found my way around an Apple Mac (The early Imacs), and met so many wonderful people, as I surfed the net drank endless cups of Earl Grey tea, and observed the Saturday morning human traffic. Hundreds of my journal entries were scribbled at the window tables, and countless ideas for stories and picture projects were given life in that wonderful, friendly environment. Now, like a lot of other Internet cafes that sprung up in Leicester since the mid 1990's, it stands cold and empty, as more and more people are choosing to access the net via laptops, Iphones and the new tablet of communication the Ipad. All inevitable I suppose, but every time I walk by the Mango, all those cherished memories come flooding back, as I look inside at the abandoned shell, and remember how much I loved this place and the lasting effect it has on my life

Reduced to Rubble

2010-06-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

This Victorian building on Leicester's Granby Street, was once the home and centre of life for one of the city's most celebrated sons, Thomas Cook, one of the founders of tourism, which ultimately led to the package Holiday we all know so well. Being the abode of such a giant, one could be mistaken for thinking that the local council would want to save this place, spend some money on it's upkeep, and take pride in it's important heritage. Not so, as once again, history is about to be side-lined, and the whole place be torn down in favour of a seven storey office development.

Now I've lost count of just how many empty offices we have in Leicester, so tell me what's the point?. This is just another case of lets sell of our treasures for a fast buck and screw history. Leicester City Council in even thinking about such a proposition, should hide their heads in shame, being the historical Vandals they are continuing to show themselves to be.

The Shelley 100

2010-05-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to be a member of the British Museum, every time I go there I'm knocked over by what I see, hear and experience. Of late, The History Of The World in 100 Objects, has drawn my interest like a hoover, moreover it's inspired me to gather from the far corners of my life, 100 objects of my own to represent my personal history, thus far. So far I have retrieved, my fathers army pay book, the first black and white negatives I ever produced, my marriage certificate, letters from a pen friend on death row, and a funny little brass combination lock that's been in my family for years.

I have a long way to go, and what I will do with all these objects is unclear, a self published book maybe?, who knows. But for me it's been a much more interesting and diverse way of 'logging' different episodes of my life, other than just trawling through boxes of photographs. Watch this space

In The Heat Of The Day

2010-05-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

I know we shouldn't complain, but this heat (in the heart of Leicester UK). has had me heading for the coolest part of house, with my IPod, twenty something pod casts, and a couple of good books. However, I did venture out twice this weekend, in pursuit of history and good conversation, and I'm happy to report that I found an abundance of both. On Saturday I paid a visit to Abbey Park, a vast green getaway, complete with Abbey Ruins, a bandstand, and a cafe that reminds me of my 1950's childhood. Here I studied and photographed the last resting place of Cardinal Wolsey, and walked the ancient medieval walls looking for Craftsman's signatures.

On the Sunday my wife and I went to a Barbecue given my our local councillor and I spent the afternoon overeating and chewing the political cud with a former Lord Mayor of the city and several of my fellow Lib Dems. All this made the slight tanning of my arms and receding hairline bearable, but only just.

Hanging with the Lib-Dems.

2010-05-09T02:20:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I became part of UK election history, sort of!. For the first time (maybe not the last), I helped out my party of choice with a spot of 'Telling' outside one of the Election venues in my home constituency of Leicester West. Ironically, for a while I had my brother-in-law for company, helping out with his party of choice the Conservatives. I had a tremendous time, meeting all kinds of voters from first timers, to one irate individual who became very angry and menacing, shouting all kinds of obscenities as he swaggered away to God knows where.

In the evening, I attended the count, and witnessed both the agony and the ecstasy of all the candidates, who were nervously looking towards their teams for information about their individual Tally's. I finally got away around 4.30am, after congratulating our man Peter Coley who came in third for fighting a tremendous campaign. The winner and new MP for Leicester West was Labour's Liz Kendall, who I shook hands with on a couple of occasions, and I genuinely wish her well in her first term as representative for this parish.

My own journals contain a much more detailed description of the day, but as I write my back has given out and I'm loaded with pain killers, so I have to cut the text here. Thank you Peter for giving me the opportunity to be a tiny cog in the wheels of local and national election history, I just hope and pray we get out of this 'Hung' situation very soon.

Hustle and Bustle.

2010-05-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we are blind to what we see around us. While not wanting to slide on a bed of sentimental ice flow, my heart was lifted earlier this afternoon, walking with my wife down Gallowtree Gate in the heart of Leicester towards the popular Clock Tower location, on the way engaging with Socialist candidate Steve Score, a UNISON representative, and passing between a Christian group, trying with all their hearts to bring people to the teachings of Christ, and an equally interesting group of Muslims, trying with equal enthusiasm to educate people to the vast world of Islam.

I love the social, political and religious diversity that this great city has to offer the world at large, and I'm proud to be a part of it, and try in my own small way to contribute to that vibrant cocktail of life. I think we have coming up next Thursday (General Election Day), the most interesting local fight in the whole of the UK. Will people vote with their hearts, minds, or a combination of both.? In the end, the most important thing of all is to vote.

End Of Round 2

2010-04-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

I think there will be a number of foot soldiers in both the Tory and Labour camps this morning, scratching their heads, tapping well worn pencils against their lips, trying to come up with a formula to send Nick Clegg into the shadowy sidelines.

It isn't going to be easy, although to be fair I thought all three party leaders gave good accounts of themselves in the second debate. I'm afraid it was left to the gutter press to try and douse Nick Clegg with their own brand of sticky brown stuff, but all that did was to send these particular newspapers into the depths of the sewers where they belong.

What matters of course is the opinion of the general public, and I think Glegg has done enough to persuade a number of floating voters to land in the Lib Dem camp. But there is still a long battle ahead. As today is St Georges Day, I'm sure that all party leaders will be mustering a little of the 'fighting spirit', to fight another day. The last debate next week is going to draw a huge audience, Already I'm on the edge of my seat.

Freedom Of Choice

2010-04-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

A free society should be rooted in the rich soil of Tolleration. Unfortunately, as the case of Shirley Chaplin (the nurse who wasn't allowed to wear her crucifix in her workplace), clearly depicts, toleration ain't what it used to be. Indifference, prejudice, extremism, and at times what I personally call 'A Secular Crusade', have all taken the place of freeborn common sense, and erased in one generation, a human being's right to express their faith in public.

France are trying something of the same by steamrolling some ridiculous and disgraceful legislation, about the way Muslim women dress in public.

Both cases I have mentioned are to me, both derisory and and insult to people who happen to put God at the centre of their lives.

Silent Running

2010-04-12T01:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my wife and I headed for the hills somewhere in Derbyshire for a two day retreat, meet up with some treasured fellow travellers, and recharge our batteries. The result has been, many moments of quiet reflection, prayer and away from the arena of politics and the battle cries of electioneering. Now for the past few weeks I have 'Twittered' and shouted from the rooftops about the importance of using your vote. The depth of political apathy in this county worries me greatly. And I think that many MP's (Not all), have contributed to that bottomless pit of despair. Now that I'm fully refreshed from my 48 hours of being 'un-plugged', you will be hearing more of the same. This morning I heard of the plight of two Iranian women being locked away in Iran's notorious Evin Prison for 259 days in 2009, for their Christian faith. They are soon to be questioned again about their beliefs. Think about that for a while, and one realises how lucky we are in the UK to have the luxury of freedom of expression. So I make no apology to ask you all again to USE YOUR VOTE. This is your right

Out Of The Starting Blocks

2010-04-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

So at last the election is for real, and all the main players are cutting ground level vapour trails through the nooks and crannies of the British Isles, smiling, shaking hands, kissing infants all in the hopes of gaining your vote, and believe me this is an election where every vote counts. I'm disappointed though, that take off came in the form of whimpering sound bites.

"You are voting for hope, you are voting for optimism, you are voting for change" so cried David Cameron.

"I come from an ordinary middle-class family in an ordinary town", a clear side-swipe at Cameron's etonian distant past. Yawn bloody yawn. Nick Clegg played it all very low key, choosing to turn the ignition on the Lib-Dem campaign, in a church hall, miles away from the Thames and Downing Street backdrops. Now Mr Clegg may not set the political globe ablaze with fiery rhetoric, but I personally believe him to be more forthright and honest than most other residents in the Westminster village.

Not quite the hit and run start I was hoping for, but somewhere down the line in the next five weeks, there will be a remark, incident, enlightenment that will pep the whole trail of tears up.

having said that, best keep John Prescott locked in the van.

Getting To Know You

2010-04-02T23:42:00.000-07:00

Last Monday's pre-election debate between the Chancellor and his two opponents, led me to think that all constituencies, should have the opportunity to see their local candidates up against each other in public debate. I'm thinking very hard about contacting all my prospectives, and asking them to organise a venue where we can scrutinise them, and talk about what they can offer us, the electorate, should we vote them to power.

My only doubt is that after the negative publicity Parliament has had over the last twelve months, with cries of "I've not done anything wrong", while behind the scenes there's been a steady screwing of the system, would anybody turn up. Well trust me ladies and gentleman, I would be there, notebook in hand, ready to put my hand up at the first opportunity.

The Morning After

2010-03-25T01:45:00.000-07:00

To be fair, I thought Alistair Darling gave a very good account of himself as he delivered the very last budget speech before the general election. The same couldn't be said however for David Cameron during PM Q's. With his 'ranting' and awkward body language, he looked anything but a 'Prime minister in waiting. Gordon Brown with his measured responses was by far the superior gladiator, like a warrior from the north, attacking Hadrian's Wall.

Now in the past I've been one of Mr. Brown's harshest critics, particularly over such atrocities like Iraq and Afghanistan, but one has to give credit where its due, and yesterday against an opposition whose blood was up' he was magnificent. The same can be said for a rising star in the form of Nick Clegg, who looks every bit a statesman, and can obviously see the opportunity (in the event of a hung parliament) to influence government policy in a real way, since the distant echos of Lloyd George.

This is one election I'm really looking forward to, and on a local level here in Leicester West we have a number of credible candidates who, I'm sure will induce comment and debate right across the district.

End Times.

2010-03-23T03:32:00.000-07:00

I chose the title of this blog, not as a prophetic warning to the end of the world, but as a plea from one in the wilderness, to draw to a close the reign of morally corrupt Members of Parliament, and let a new dawn begin with people of integrity. I'm sick to the back teeth of revelation after revelation of elected members skirting the rule of law, and claiming that they are totally innocent.

They are a disgrace to their constituents, which is bad enough, but worse is that they are a disgrace to themselves. The Labour Party was absolutely right to suspend them, and I hope ALL parties will do likewise. At this rate, NOBODY is going to bother to vote, for anybody and the nightmare scenario is that this will create a vacuum where the likes of the BNP will take root and flourish with their racist filth.

Let's get on with the election, clear these bloody freeloaders out and start again. But for goodness sake VOTE....

Woodman, Spare That Tree

2010-03-21T03:12:00.000-07:00

Woodman, spare that tree. So wrote George Pope Morris in 1830, and put to music much later to become a popular song all over the world. That tune which I first sang along to at Infant school back in the late 1050's came rushing back like a icy spectre this morning, after reading various reports about reducing the 'paper' trail in the annals of government and beyond. On this very point however, I'm as guilty as anybody else, when I gaze over my pile of note books, and sticky notes that fill; both my tote bag and study.

This can't go on, I really have to clean up my act, and turn over a new leaf. I must resist the temptation to purchase another pack of excellent Molskine or Black n' Red notepads, as beautiful as they are. I'm trying to unfill my head into the Apple laptop, or my aging Sharp organiser. The cold truth is that there is no excuse these days for people to waste so much paper, even though as a nation we are gradually waking up to the benefits of re-cycling (albeit at snail pace).

I have no idea whether George Pope Morris was an environmentalist, but his words hit home in a big way this morning. Just after thought, if you wanna sing along click onto:

www.contemplator.com/america/woodman.html

The Keys To The Kingdom

2010-03-20T03:01:00.000-07:00

The title of this blog post is taken from the Alcoholics Anonymous 'Big Book', and tells in it's own words about the freedom from addiction. To me, the title has a very different connotation, although being a recovering alcoholic with twenty-one years of sobriety under my belt (one day at a time), it's a chapter I return to frequently.

The 'key' for me personally, is the freedom one obtains by forgiveness. Now I'm under no illusions that this is a difficult arena for people to enter after loosing somebody to murder. negligence, or treachery. In the case of my wife and I we had to reach into ourselves recently after our house was burgled and ransacked, while we were celebrating her birthday in Shrewsbury.

To date we have no idea who broke into our house and trampled all over and pillaged our personal space and belongings. Much of Cathy's irreplaceable jewellery was taken, along with the usual hauls of TV and laptop. But whoever they are, although we are angry, they have our forgiveness unequivocally, and we hope that they find some kind of peace, in which they can experience the richness of life, without having to resort to petty crime.

Housebound

2010-03-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

Due to a foot operation I've been confined to barracks for the last three weeks. Now in the past I've heard many of my work colleagues complain that when they are incapacitated and have to stay at home they get 'bored' and start climbing the walls. Why???

OK so it isn't pleasant hobbling around on crutches. trying without success sometime to avoid knocking the metal pin protruding from my left foot, but I've managed my time well, reading and finishing all those books, writing, catching up with Radio 4, Planet Rock, and a host of 'obscure' movies I've been meaning to view for months sometimes years (look out for reviews of the latter in a future blog), but seriously guys and gals', I haven't been bored, not once.

Personally, I don;t believe that my generation (fifty-somethings), are very good at filling their spare time, and illness just compounds the situation. Maybe a new political slogan could be invented, just to target my generation. As a suggestion may I offer 'Re-education, Re-education, Re-education. Does that have an odour of familiarity about it??.

Red until Dead R.I.P Michael Foot

2010-03-04T00:49:00.000-08:00

The death yesterday, of former labour member of Parliament Michael Foot, signalled the end of a truly remarkable era. Above all he was a man of principle, the old fashioned firebrand the like of which we will never see again on the stump, or in the Commons chamber itself. Today's political arena is full of spin, soundbites, cheesy grins, smart suits and harbours a distinct lack of intelligent, informative debate. Foot could I believe until his final breath, wipe the floor with any of these 'lightweights' who are interested in nothing but their own image.

Loyal until the end, that attribute was to defeat him nearly all his political life. He will be much missed not just by the left worldwide, but by his opponents who enjoyed his cut and thrust style.

He was one of the greatest parliamentarians of all time, and today he has no equal.

Casting The First Stone

2010-02-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

Like most people I guess, I'm a sinner. I've been lot worse in times gone by, but squeaky clean I am not. This self confession is all part of me trying on a daily basis to become a 'better' person. By that I don't mean dropping to my knees in prayer every fifteen minutes or so, but pray I do. No it's how I conduct myself with friends, family, work colleagues and even the total stranger who says 'Good Morning Mate', while walking his dog at the crack of dawn.

Lately, I've fallen headlong into the minefield of being judgemental, without thinking or considering the other people in the dock of my personal court. One of which who is locked away on Death Row in Florida, the other being a blood family member. It's a trap we all fall into from time to time, often without thinking, other times we pile those soap boxes so high we loose sight of the solid ground we walk upon. It's troubled me to the point of sleepless nights, and headaches. I aim to do better, think more clearly, and give due consideration every time an irritation bites me in the backside. Watch this space.

Space Age Cuts.

2010-02-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

So it seems that the astronauts of tomorrow, will not now be landing on either side of the Moon by 2020. Influenced no doubt, by the present economic climate that's landed the U.S. economy in quicksand, President Obama has decided to pull the rug from under NASA, shattering the dreams of potential astronauts, scientists and engineers alike.

It may be the right move, and I'm sure the man's heart is in the right place, his priority being health and welfare. But I can't help thinking, that by shutting the proposed new 'moon' programme down, he's denied at the stroke of a pen, the excitement for millions of people around the globe, that akin to what I felt forty-one years ago, when the fuzzy but breathtaking images came through of Neil Armstrong taking his 'one small step'

I can never remember a time before or since, when the world as a whole, put aside its differences, and for a moment, became united by such a great event, and event that is of peace.

Snow Cover

2010-01-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

Once again the United Kingdom has been defeated by an ancient enemy, a single act of natural terrorism instigated and delivered by Mother nature, SNOW.Here in the great Midlands town of Leicester, it hasn't been too bad, with buses still running, and schools still open to the annoyance no doubt, of thousands of pupils who had to attend lessons, rather than go snow-boarding down the nearest hillside or incline.
For me personally, all I've had to put up with is mild backache, due to the walking patten of small, slow steps to avoid slipping or sliding in the early morning hard frost. Of course this continuing white blanket under which thousands have been encased, sometimes for days on end, has thrown up the old arguments of 'not enough' road gritting or preparations. But then it wouldn't be Britain if we didn't have a good moan.
I think we should make the best of it, get outdoors and build the biggest snowman (sorry 'snow person'), we can while we are still at sub-zero temperatures. That's have a little fun, after all it's only 349 days to Christmas.

2009 Looking Back

2010-01-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

I write this blog at 5.14am, on Saturday, January 1, 2010. I'm using my wife's laptop in the spare room, as my garage/study is bloody freezing, and I am 'racked' with a bad cough, that's laid me low for several days. Woe is me, but hey it's a new year, with new ideas, and many resolutions to break. So what kind of year have I had?. Like most people's I guess, mixed, some good, some bad, some memorable, some forgetful.....'times' I mean.
I haven't made the breakthrough in writing that I wanted, but the flip side is that I've finished my fourteen thousand word plus short story, so for the first few months of this year, I will be polishing its content, before I self publish, and sell it from this blog. And that will set my course for 2010, more writing, more history projects, anything that appeals, without the demon of pressure. My wife and I woke up to glorious sun shire on the edge of the county of Rutland (U.K.), and after a hearty breakfast at the excellent 'Little Chef', we headed for such places as Stoke Dry and Eyebrook Reservoir, before heading home to a host of new year goodwill in the form of phone messages and e-mails. One thing is puzzling me, now that we have flown the 'Noughties' to we say 'Two thousand and ten, or simply 'Twenty-Ten'. ??? The debate rages

Cloudburst

2009-12-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

As we tread from day to day through the monotony and humdrum of our daily lives, dodging traffic, suffering the rudeness of counter hands etc., it's easy to forget the absolute beauty of nature which is there for us all to enjoy and marvel at. A couple of days ago, I made an image of this cloud formation, during early afternoon in Leicester, close to Junction twenty-one of the M1.
OK so I spruced it up a little in Photo shop, but the shape of the cloud, billowing out into a winter sky is (I hope you agree) stunning. maybe if all made an effort to appreciate the interplay of nature's light and dark shows, it would help us de-stress in the run up to yet another over-priced and over hyped Christmas. There is genuine beauty all around us, we just have to start looking.

Walking Back To Happiness

2009-12-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

Was it Helen Shapiro who sang the title of this blog???? who knows, but very apt for me right now. I've been walking the 4.1 miles into work, most (not all) mornings into work for the last four weeks. man, do I feel better, given the fact that some wire has come adrift in my head, and more often than not these days, a little confusion takes hold here and there, the early morning exercise I feel is having huge beneficial effects on the grey matter.

Of course, there is a chance that I'm no better, and all that's taking place is weight loss, and the fact that I can squeeze back into those rotting denims, is producing feelings loaded with a 'happiness' narcotic. But who bloody cares, today has been good day, and tomorrow I'll be pounding the pavement (sidewalk) for readers stateside.

R.I.P my beautiful Apple friend

2009-11-06T04:47:00.000-08:00

In thirty years of shooting images, I've used many different cameras, from home made pinhole devices, to expensive Nikon, Olympus and Canon machines, and large format sheet film contraptions.Having used all this cornucopia hardware, my favourite device of all my photographic career has been the Apple IPhone, and it is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my trusty little friend last Sunday, as she slipped from my clumsy hands onto a hard, conservatory floor.
A total 'goner', it would cost far too much to repair, but man, has she been a good companion. In the two years Ive had my silver machine, we have travelled all over from the north of England, down through Norfolk and Devon, via London and to Rhodes and back, no problems, great results with ease and comfort. Will she ever be replaced with another model?, maybe not for now, a period of mourning is in process. R.I.P my little friend, gone but never forgotten.
Above are two examples of a recent photo-shoot in Brighton, UK both made with the IPhone.

Hey Council, leave our history alone.

2009-10-30T04:02:00.000-07:00

Back in the 1960's, it's fair to say that the city planners ripped the guts out of Leicester City Centre, but happily nearly all of those detestable tower blocks have been reduced to rubble. Not that what's replaced it is any better, but that's another story. Of late, much has been made of the High cross Centre, a vast, shiney, temple of consumerism, which has attracted by now i would expect millions of shoppers and the curious at heart.
Sorry to say it does absolutely nothing for me, soulless and sour,and just like the tower blocks, when the interest wains, it will be gutted and re-hashed for the next generation of consumers. My interest is anchored elsewhere, and in the picture above re three fine examples of pre-world-war two architecture. The Collegiate School,Top Hat Terrace and the Central Library, all stunning in their own way,and all built to last.
We've lost enough of our heritage to successive councils, most of which have had little concern about our local history. This destruction has to stop. Hands Off!.

Missed Opportunity

2009-10-23T04:32:00.000-07:00

You would have had to be languishing somewhere in the outer regions of Neptune, not to have picked up on all the hype and venomous backlash concerning BNP leader Nick Griffin's appearance on Question Time. From the outset, i was never in any doubt that the BBC were right to invite this tragic, delusion d individual onto the programme, but what a waste of an opportunity.
Instead of nailing him down with questions about the economy, jobs,health service, credit crunch, which would have , in a heartbeat, exposed the BNP as being an empty, hollow eggshell , easily crushed by debate and argument, it turned into a slagging match, in which nothing was gained and much was lost.And I seriously doubt that the million or so voters who scrawled a crossing the BNP box at the last European and council elections, would be compelled to change their views after programme had come raggedly to an end.
The BNP, like the National Front before them, are a vicious, evil, organisation do nothing but play on people's fear and anxieties about immigration and loss of jobs. Any thing they do to try and sanitise their image, should be confronted and challenged, but not by knee-jerk violent retaliation. The to defeat the ignorant is education, argument and presenting the facts of what the BNP stand for, white supremacy and racial segregation. They are a disgrace, with no policies of any worth. If you want rid of them, stand up and be counted at every opportunity.

Autumn Rhythm

2009-10-16T04:08:00.000-07:00

Most of us are familiar with the saying 'If a picture could paint a thousand words' (or something like that), and while walking along Leicester's Glenfield Road recently, I made this image as a visual description of my own life. Autumn and Winter are and always have been my favourite seasons, and all things considered like health, creativity and realistic expectations, early Autumn is the port where I'm anchored to on the ocean of life.
I measure quite a lot of my day to day activity by looking at my 'tolerance' levels. Of late they have been up in the hot reds, inducing in me wave after wave of flaming rhetoric, directed mostly at work colleagues. Thankfully, the people I have in mind, have known me for many years. They understand (as do I), that I have no edit or volume sliders on my mouth, and that given time this tirade of outpourings will cool into sensible and logical argument (sometimes), and tomorrow, all will be OK.
Having said that, my blood was boiled this week, when Gordon Brown used parliamentary time to read out the names of the thirty-odd British soldiers who had died in occupied Afghanistan, in the month before MP's returned to the green leather benches. I wonder if he'll ever read out the list of the thousands of Afghan nationals, who have lost their lives as innocent bystanders. And still we send more troops, when, when, WHEN are we going to put and end to this MADNESS????

Power To The People

2009-10-13T04:20:00.000-07:00

last weekend I had the good fortune to show members of my family the wonderful 'Top Hat Terrace' building on Leicester's London Road. To be honest, this masterpiece of Architecture, is in a pretty dilapidated state, and is need of a cash injection to spruce it up, for all to enjoy. What worries me is the fact that Leicester City Council, don't seem to share my love of Leicester's rich architectural heritage, with the imminent destruction of the Bow String Bridge, a monument if any to the hard work and toil of ordinary working people from times gone by.
I welcome all the protesters, who have given their time to make a stand against this act of legalised vandalism. maybe they will inspire others to mobilise themselves into groups of protest to try and stop any further erosion of our historical buildings.

2009-10-09T03:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to get away from it all and what better place to De-stress than English Lake District. I hadn't set foot in the great region of Cumbria for thirty years, and along with my wife and a close family friend, we were greeted with raging storms, and rain like bullets.
But did it matter?, well that question was answered near the summit of 'Barrow', from which I shot this panoramic on my Apple IPhone. It's four images stitched together in Photoshop, showing the majesty of Skiddaw. If the good Lord will have me, I intend to return to the area next Spring. The lake District is one of the great natural drugs of life, the more you see it, the more you want. Next time I intend to overdose.

One Big Yawn!

2009-10-01T04:42:00.000-07:00

Well I don't know about you, but what I've seen televised from Brighton this week adds up to a poorly attended provincial farce.I doubt if any good old labourite miners in the audience this last week,but if there were, I hope they brought a few 'pit props with them, for if there was ever a party conference that need solid support, this was surely it.What with Brown's underwhelming speech, Ainsworth calling for more troops to be choppered into the the mindless arena of Afghanistan,and Mandelson being accused of using the 'C' word, I found myself scraping the barrel to find anything like real policy. But I would lay reasonable odds that the one word you wouldn't hear mentioned is the 'S' word, socialism.There I've said it. So just the Cameron caravan to endure, then it's up to us, we the tax payers,who've bailed out the the tyrants of greed, who are now hiding behind their mountains of cash, squeezed out of ordinary, hard working citizens, who are fed this political crap by the media, who to be fair, try to make the deeply boring, interesting enough for us to make a decision who to scribble that cross against in six months time.For a first time voter, that will be quite a chore.

Southern Paradise

2009-09-29T04:10:00.000-07:00

I have to confess that after four years of wonderful marriage, I've fallen in love again, head over heels, hook, line and sinker with something beautiful. But fear not family and readers, there is no woman involved, this passionate embrace is wrapped around the glorious, vibrant, city of Brighton, the belle of England's south coast, and it's a mistress I'll keep revisiting as long as there is breath in this body.
One unfortunate mishap (as in any affair) was the intrusion of a dead elephant in the form of the Labour party conference. Now I've had a left to centre view for as long as I could think for myself, but this lot with a spent force at the helm are going nowhere until they re-connect with ordinary people, and the sight of police armed to the teeth, protecting a bunch of 'has-beans' was the only blot on what was a beautiful exploration of what I'm now calling, 'The jewel of the South'
Fantastic shops, cosy little busy streets, friendly people, excellent service, and never once did I feel threatened or intimidated by anybody, even those worse for drink, on this hot, late summer weekend. the problem is I need another fix, badly. As the song goes. 'When will I see you again?'

Heritage Homicide

2009-09-17T04:10:00.000-07:00

Last weekend in Leicester, my wife, her daughter and myself joined a gathering of three-hundred people to protest against the destruction of the Bowstring railway bridge, and the popular Pump and Tap public house. Sadly, despite the strong opposition, both are to be laid to waste, to make way for a....'leisure centre and swimming pool. I fear the same will happen to the former home of Leicester's travel pioneer, Thomas Cooke, whose former home (see picture), is likely to be demolished in favour of a car park.

What kind of society destroys it's own past, for the sake of modernity and money. I'm so bloody angry with the local council, A LABOUR COUNCIL, who clearly has no respect for history, and who is prepared to bulldoze every monument to working class people, in favour of making a quick buck. They should hang their collective heads in shame.

Brown, Say NO.

2009-09-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

I read this morning that the United States Administration, are going to ask Britain to send more troops to fight this ridiculous, pointless, stupid war in Afghanistan. If Gordon Brown has any credibility left he will say NO, NO and NO.

We seem to learn nothing from History. Does anybody remember the nine years that the old Soviet forces were there fighting the Mujaheddin?. Thousands died on both sides and for what?. If we had a Prime Minister or President who was an historian, none of this would happen. We never seem to look back and learn from our past. These days it's all ego, spin and arrogance, and like always it's the ordinary people who pay the price of government stubbornness.

One Man's Courage

2009-08-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

Not many people will have heard of Joe Glenton. Joe is (or was) a British solider who, after doing a tour of duty in Afghanistan, refused to return to a war he See's as a pointless exercise, and is facing a court martial for his honesty and bravery.

Joe, has written to Gordon Brown asking to bring the troops home. There are millions like him who feel the same, and I'm one of them. The eight year conflict has done absolutely nothing to reduce terrorism, but brought misery and heartbreak to both the Afghan and British populace alike. I am grieved by any death whether it be a solider of an Afghan national. It's utterly ridiculous, lets bring it to an end, NOW.

Ignorance, pure ignorance

2009-07-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, while going about my daily grind, a comment was made to me about a sign being put up in the warehouse section, in the Polish language. It went something like this.

"Hey Tone, yer seen it"

"Seen what?,

"A notice has been put up in Polish, hey, what d'yer think"?

"What's wrong with that.?

"Ah this is F***ing England."

All this from man in a position of 'light' authority, I was disgusted, but not surprised. It's no wonder that the BNP are flourishing on this tide of indifference and hatred of immigrant workers. The hardest thing for me is to work among brain-dead scumbags who have little or no understanding of other people's cultures. Did I report him, No, for one thin I'm no snitch' for another it wouldn't do any good. Yes, we all have a right to free speech, what we don't have is the right to do, is to cast aspersions on people's culture in the arena of ignorance

Why?.

2009-07-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

Having just heard the tragic news about more British soldiers being killed in Afghanistan, I'm asking the question that most people, I suspect, are asking WHY?.

After eight brutal years of occupation of a country whose name most people could hardly pronounce, what has it achieved?, why are we there, why the hell are we sending our young, brave men to lay down their lives, under the pretence, that the 'world will be a safer place. And what about the thousands of Afghan nationals, who have been killed, or caught in the daily crossfire?. We must spare them a thought as well.

The cost of sustaining this bloody, pointless, conflict, is rising by the hour, and doing nothing but swelling the ranks of the Taliban, and other terrorist organisations. For God's sake, lets put and end to this madness, and withdraw our forces for good.

Stand Up And be Counted

2009-07-03T02:44:00.000-07:00

I was heartened by the demonstration in Belfast yesterday, protesting against the vile and destructive attacks on one-hundred Roma people, who had little choice to return to further persecution in their native Romania.

In excess of five hundred people representing twelve different trade unions, endured a heavy rainstorm, to mark their detestation of 'all' racist attacks, no matter which perpetrates them. Since the attacks, threats have been made against other minority communities, including those from Asian and Polish backgrounds.

What is it with these thugs?, who hide behind masks, and are hellbent on making misery of other people's lives. It's hard to pin-point just who's to blame, but like most people I have my suspicions. My hope is that in a great city like Belfast, who have so many, decent, hard working people in 'all' their different walks of life, bond together and drive out this divisive cancer. And that the politicians do likewise, without resorting to the level of blame culture, which is a dead-end policy for everybody.

Attack on the Roma Community.

2009-06-19T04:10:00.000-07:00

So again the the cold hands of racial hatred have hurled bricks and stones at a minority community, living in Northern Ireland. having fled from violent attacks in their homeland of Romania, the small Roma community have once again had to face the 'mob' , forcing many of them to flea into temporary accommodation, provided by the church.

People from both communities in Northern Ireland have been quick to condemn this thuggery, but more has to be done. I read in the press, that most of the victims are employed in low paid jobs , selling newspapers and car washing. Do I hear the echos of 'British jobs for British workers'?, does that give the right for people to attack and wreak the lives of others, NO.

Race hate crime has increased in South Belfast over the past six months and although it may be as Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinnes said, 'a small unrepresentative group of criminals, the hard fact is that racism and bigotry are forever busy. And are being fed daily, by a new surge of nationalism, which makes me sick to the stomach.

Ashamed and Confused

2009-06-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

In the early hours of this morning, I saw what was for me one of the most despicable sights ever seen on national television. The sight of BNP leader Nick Griffin, climbing onto the rostrum, in the North West of England, grinning, displaying a Chruchillian V sign, claiming that his electoral win was a victory for the British people.

It made me sick to the stomach. He doesn't speak for me, or millions of others like he claims. No just the racist bone-heads, who think that the forced repatriation of thousands of black and Asian people would solve all this country's ills overnight. It's the politics of the sewer, and it made me ashamed that on the weekend of the sixty-fifth anniversary of the D-Day landings, where many young men and women laid down their lives, to stop Hitler's onslaught, this country sends two fascist MEP's into the heart of Europe.

For God's sake Britain WAKE UP!

A Personal View From Ben Stein

2009-05-29T03:39:00.000-07:00

Commentary..My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year.. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came20from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?' In light of re cent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.' Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it.... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein

Personally I agree with him.
Tony Shelley

As I Woke Up One Summer Morning

2009-05-24T23:18:00.000-07:00

At present, the BBC are running a poetry season. Of what I've heard and seen, this really is one of the best series, projects (call it what you will), that the doyen of broadcasting have done for years. These days we are spoiled for choice when it comes to television and radio, although I have to say that in my opinion, the majority of programmes in this 24/7 digital age, are atrocious.

A conspiracy theorist could argue that the nation, world even, is being hypnotised by the continual viewing of this barrel scraping crap that is being delivered at the speed of light, to millions of homes on a continual loop. The poetry season is the exception, and my hope is that it will turn on a new generation to the likes of W.H. Auden, John Donne and countless others who have given us the gift of rhyme and verse, which unlike 99% of all television, will last forever. Well done BEEB, more please.

Oh These Wonderful Nights.

2009-05-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday night, warm, no breeze, just the gentle rhythm of West Leicester suburbia, comedy repeats on Free view, and I'm full of icy orange juice and about to take a cool shower. It's at moments like these, in a time frame like this, that the simple things become so important.

Today, was a day for shedding excess, do I really need four computers, no, who does?. So three went down to the recycling centre, and I came back a free man. Beautiful man, just beautiful. Off to bed soon with a book, a notepad, pencils and my Ipod, just in case I overdose on this ordinary but treasured, simple life. Goodnight all sleep well and peaceful.

If You Gotta' Go, Go Now

2009-05-19T03:52:00.000-07:00

What planet doe's Michael Martin live on?. Yesterday I , like countless others, witnessed one of the most humiliating spectacle's in the history of Parliament, Speaker Marting defending the indefensible, MP's from all sides were either baiting him or telling him to go, the end result being garbled bleating from a visibly tired and shaken old man, clinging on to an office he's clearly, not in any shape for.
The thing that struck me the most was the 'antiquity' of the process,. Now I'm all for keeping ancient traditions, but when it comes to an elected member of parliament's integrity, no anachronistic piece of legislation should be used to block the process of change. Now I'm no lawyer or legal expert, but I do know the difference between right and wrong, and Speaker Martin should head the calls, and resign while he still has some dignity left.

Poetry, please, please, please

2009-05-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

Some time ago on another blog site of mine, I made the comment that when I had multi-channel television installed, I immediately went from five channels of crap to forty-eight channels of equal banal, rubbish. And in many ways I still feel that to be the case. The one bright light of late is the BBC Poetry season, which is being broadcast, both on TV and radio.
My sincere hope for this excellent project, is that it will; turn a lot of people on to verse, sonnets and couplets like never before, and that this drug of words will make lifelong addicts of many who had been closed to the idea of being blown away by poetry. So lets applaud the BBC, and I for one will be getting very 'high' over the next few days as I tune in to the many different programmes on offer.

Do The Right Thing

2009-05-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

The only way this sorry, despicable mess surrounding the bloated, beyond the fringe, expenses saga is going to end, is by Speaker Martin doing the honourable thing and stepping aside. Now I'm no regular reader of the Daily Telegraph, but they deserve credit for exposing some of our MP's for what they are, dis-honest players of a deeply flawed system. But it's time to move on and let nature take its course, as I believe most if not all the MP's who were outed, will be looking for new jobs they can exploit, after the next general election.

If they had an ounce of honesty left in them (which I seriously doubt), they should give a generous donation to Christian Aid this week, and help save the lives of human beings everywhere. It's a blight on western society, that here we are in 2009, living to excess, and yet something like thirteen thousand children die every week in what we used to call the 'third world', due to starvation. Expenses aside, our 'leaders' ought to hang their heads in shame.

Saturday Morning 3.58am

2009-04-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sitting here looking at a computer screen, having been in the arena of heated discussion, it's easy to see how one's life could end up in tatters through the actions of others. I'm not very good at keeping a lid on my temper, but by the grace of God, these days, I can at least manage to sort, moreover talk, my problems out.

There was a time in my life when my reaction to any upheaval, or what I interpreted as other people's shortcomings was to lash out, sometimes physically. Again, thank God that those days have long ceased to be. What I will not allow however, is the prejudice, smugness, and concrete indifference of 'others' to have an indelible effect on me and those I love. And, there has to be a time when we have to totally refrain from 'loyalty, simply for loyalty's sake.

Last night I received an e-mail from the Leicester branch of CND, telling me about somebody called Hasam Azizi, who's about to be deported to Afghanistan, where he has no family or friends, a country which he hasn't seen since he was ten years old. Next week, I will sign a petition in hope that he will be able to stay in Leicester, and live his life as a Christian in his home community of Bishop Street Methodist Church.

I've never met Hasam, but I feel his pain and anxiety like he was a member of my own family. Lets hope that sanity prevails, and he is granted the greatest gift of all - freedom.

Not Now Darling

2009-04-23T04:11:00.000-07:00

Anybody who witnessed Alistair Darling's roasting by Evan Davies on the Today programme, would be forgiven for thinking that our Chancellor suffers from the disease that gets all politicians in the end, WAFFLE!.

It was the worst performance I have heard from an MP in all the years Ive been listening to such beasts. It all sounded like pre-rehearsed garbled crap, and in the end, Darling had to be shut down, by the excellent and well informed Evan Davies, who is a champion at the 'big' interview.

In the end, I didn't know whether I (or we as a nation) , had any chance of economic recovery in the next decade. If the government have any credibility left, they should issue a 'Budget in Plain English), so people like me at the bottom end of the pay scale, can fully understand this laborious shit.

Hit And Run

2009-04-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

So now we have another policeman suspended for hitting out without provocation. Bloody disgusting, just what kind of people are signing up to law enforcement these days?. Nobody (including me) thinks that our police service have an easy job, but this 'lashing out' mentality, seems to be a cancer spreading throughout the front ranks everywhere.

God only knows what some of these over zealous thugs would do if they were issued sidearms. The law has to be enforced, of that there is no argument, but there also has to be an element of restraint, and turning a police baton onto a young woman, does nothing but provoke anger and heart felt outrage, in those people who have the right to protest....and survive.

Wolves In Sheep's Clothes.

2009-04-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

Well they may have secured 23% in a recent Manchester council election, but the BNP don't fool me for a second. Yes, the image has changed, they no longer parade the streets in 'skinhead' attire, preferring instead smartly pressed suits. But underneath this garb lies the same evil doctrines that they have shouted from the depths of the sewer for the last three decades. 'Rights for Whites', Keep Britain White'. How anybody could bring themselves to vote for such undiluted racism is beyond me, but that is the price we way for living in a free society. And there lies the dichotomy, because the BNP don't want a 'free' society.

They want a kind of Stalinist dictatorship, where anybody, other than white Anglo-Saxon people are either repatriated or 'encouraged' to leave these isles. They are a bunch of -Nazis and should be fought in every borough in the UK. My father, a first-wave D-Day veteran would turn in his grave at the thought of these bigots getting a foothold in local government.

The Strong Arm Of The Law

2009-04-11T04:01:00.000-07:00

Over the last three decades, I've lost count just how many petitions of signed in protest against police brutality, in such far away places like Chile, South Africa, China and even the United States. Does anybody remember Rodney King?.

But when it happens in one's own capital city, to an innocent bystander on his way home from work, it makes the skin crawl and blister, while the anger level hits high in the red gauge. All the officers involved should hang their heads in shame, and if it was left to me, they would all be 'signing on' by now.

It was a despicable display of sheer, thick-headed, brute force and ignorance, directed towards an innocent human being, who posed no threat whatsoever. Disgraceful.

Many Happy Returns

2009-04-05T00:19:00.000-07:00

Today, Sunday April 5 is the birthday of Andrew Ridge, who is the son of my wife Cathy. He's hit the wondrous 30, and I've warned him that changes are about to take place. When I crawled to that number some twenty-five years ago, the first thing I did was get my left ear pierced, two holes in the same ear, only these days, only one is occupied with a blue immitation pearl.

Andrew is a fine young man, great photographer, and truely excellent company (check out his website from the link on this page). Happy Birthday Ol' boy. Now, what kind of ear rings would you like?.

Mothers Day Memories

2009-03-20T05:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I was able to tell my Mum that there was nobody like her, and that she was the best Mum ever. But I'm sure that wherever she is now, she can tune into this blog, and read my clumsy text for herself. She was a woman of independence, decades before the term 'Women's Lib' ever entered our vocabulary, and throughout her life, her faith remained rock solid, and I said at her funeral, she was a mother to many, friend to everybody, enemy to nobody. How I loved her.

It's never too late.

2009-03-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations of the day must go to 63-year-old Gaynor Arnold from Birmingham who's debut novel 'Girl In A Blue Dress' is among the nominations on this year's Grange Prize for fiction. Gaynor works for Birmingham Council's adoption and fostering service, and the book is a fictionalised account of the wife of Charles Dickens.

It's amazing how people you've known for a long time, jump to conclusions about what you are and what you believe, without any kind of informed debate. earlier today, I arrived at work holding my copy of the Morning Star, and got asked if I was a 'Trotskyite' Well, dear old Leon himself would turn in his grave at the thought of being associated with a publication like the 'Morning Star'.

I'll end with the good news that The Stone Roses, may be on the verge of re-forming. Now that is something worth waiting for.

Movie Recommendations

2009-03-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

EYES WIDE SHUT: Directed by Stanley Kubrick

Some critics have said that Kubrick’s last movie was a bit of a let down, too self indulgent and not a worthy swan-song of such a great film maker. Well, to be fair, Kubrick could have hardly known he was going to die within weeks of the films release, but he was no stranger to bad reviews.

While it’s true to say that Eyes Wide Shut does require both patience and supreme concentration, it’s not true (in my opinion), that the movie was a let down. The sumptuous sets and the extraordinary performances from Tom Cruise and his then wife Nicole Kidman, more than make up for the turtle like pace throughout.

For a more detailed film biog. Click onto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyes_Wide_Shut

LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN: Directed by Uli Edel

A fantastic, yet extremely violent adaptation of Hubert Selby Jr’s highly controversial novel, set in the savage heart of Brooklyn in 1952. The central character of both the novel and film is the beautiful but venerable ‘Tralala’, a sex worker who after an emotional upheaval, allows herself to be gang-raped by the entire clientele in her local bar.

Despite the ‘hard to watch’ subject matter, Last Exit To Brooklyn, is beautifully film, and sensitively directed Uli Edal, Jennifer Jason Leigh who plays Tralala, is just eye-popping gorgeous, and even in the most difficult of scenes, manages to display a toughness and resilience, that takes all the ‘power’ away from her attackers.

For a more detailed film biog. Click onto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Exit_to_Brooklyn

BITTER MOON: Directed by Roman Polanski

Made in 1992, with an all star cast including Hugh Grant, Kristen Scott-Thomas and Peter Coyote, Bitter Moon is an intricate study of sexual perversion, and is rich in erotic imagery.

Set for the most part in Paris, we follow the story of failed writer Oscar and his beautiful wife Mimi, as they embark on a trail of erotic exploits, each encounter becoming more outrageous and bizarre.

For a more detailed film biog. Click onto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Moon

HENRY & JUNE: Directed by Philip Kaufman

Not very well received semi-biography of American author Henry Miller and his
Sexual encounters with Anais Nin’. The film is based on sections of Nin’s diaries in which she graphically described her sex life with Miller, after they met in Paris in 1931. Fred Ward’s portrayal of Miller is first rate, but it’s Maria De Medeiros as Nin that holds this very long movie together.

The support cast of Kevin Spacey, Richard E. Grant and Uma Thurman make this a very enjoyable experience.

For a more detailed film biog. Click onto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_&_June

300: Directed by Zack Snyder.

Why you may ask, am I including this blood-thirsty, CGI animation in a list of films dealing with erotica. The answer is simple; this film is full of erotica, especially in the love scenes between Gerard Butler and the beautiful Lena Headey (now famous for her leading role in the Sarah Conner Chronicles).

It also hints here and there of ‘homo-erotica’, especially among the ranks of the 300 Spartans, as they cut and slash their way through the Persian invaders. There are some magnificent scenes, especially when Butler encounters the ‘Oracles’ for guidance.

For a more detailed film biog. Click onto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_film

THE CEMENT GARDEN: Directed by Andrew Birkin

An exquisitely filmed movie dealing with one of the last, great taboo’s in cinema today, incest. Apart from Charlotte Giansbourg, the acting is not up too much, but it’s one of those films that you just have to see the ending, no matter what.

Set in a grim, grey, concrete landscape, a the children of two deceased parents struggle to keep together, unleashing a forbidden attraction between the older brother and sister, who have to pay the price for their unlawful liaisons.

For a more detailed film biog. Click onto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cement_Garden

INTIMACY: Directed by Patrice Chereau

Highly praised when it was first released in 2000, Intimacy went on to win a host of awards at the Berlin Film Festival, capturing the top prize of ‘Best Film’. It was highly controversial for the graphic sex scenes which took place in the dingy rooms of the leading character played effortlessly by Mark Rylance.

Some would find this very depressing viewing, as the sex itself which takes place on Wednesday afternoons, is both meaningless and unfulfilling. Both Rylance and his co-star Kerry Fox are superb in what must have been very difficult roles.

For a more detailed film biog. Click onto
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256103/

QUIET DAYS IN CLICHY: Directed by Jens Jorgan Thorson

When this DVD was released in 2003, it marked the end of a thirty-year ban, for in 1970, the United States government, ceased the all the English prints of the movie and it was never seen again in the 20th century.

The film suffered a similar fate in the United Kingdom, when it failed to impress the censors of the day. Based heavily on the writings of Henry Miller, it’s an amusing and impressive piece of film making, and a ‘must see’ for anybody interested in erotic cinema.

For a more detailed film biog. Click onto
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066407/

The Double Cross

2009-03-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

DOUBLE CROSS : n (1) an act of betraying or cheating an associate. (2) A cross between the first generation of organisms that result from the cross of four separate pure lines (e.g. in the production of hybrid seed corn).
But what about these ‘double’ crosses I keep seeing everywhere? Just look at the two examples I shot with the Apple IPhone this morning, and believe me there were several more on the way to work. Fascinating.

Congratulations to the METRO, ten years old today. I first viewed my first copy around eight years ago; when on old friend of mine dumped me at some God-forsaken tube station just north of Putney. Within a few years, I was a regular reader on the 104 to Fosse Park in Leicester, and even contributed to their ‘letters’ page from time to time.

Are we to have a general election this summer? Your guess is as good as mine, but my take on it is that the majority of New labour MP’s would welcome a spell in opposition. It must be a soul-destroying task having to apologise to their constituents, month after month for the debacles of Iraq, Afghanistan, and the toilet bound economy.

Free At Last

2009-03-13T04:57:00.000-07:00

With the help of my mate Ben Child, I have finally anchored all my networks, blogs and images into one safe harbour. And what better day to kick off than Friday, March 13 which happens to be 'Comic Relief' day. Already, I've purchased two red noses, scoffed three home made cakes from the office trolley (£1-for-3), and shot some classic images which unfortunately in these days of political correctness, cannot be shown here.

So, give, give, give and/or buy a nose. You could always make it into a helmet for any skateboarding, budgerigars you know. As for me, well, where's that trolley