31.10.05

It's Halloween ...

So what better time for a 'ghoulish' second post, about the nightmare that is life in Modern Britain?! Here's the second part of my first post on 19.10.05 about Nick Davies' 3 part series on Poverty in the Society Guardian.

If this read is too depressing, just think it could be worse - you could live in the States, where pepper spray was used to break up a halloween party over the weekend:

A weekend of Halloween celebrations popular with college students resulted in more than 400 arrests, and police used bursts of pepper spray to break up crowds of revellers.

Typically gun-slingingly american response don't you think? Although, in the US government's battle against the evil-doers, Halloween was always going to be a low point in Bush's international war on horror! But enough of my sarcasm, let's get back to the spirit of the moment:

Pixie, kobold, elf, and sprite,
All are on their rounds tonight;
In the wan moon's silver ray,
Thrives their helter-skelter play.

Joel Benton, Poet, 1832-1911

Happy Halloween Kids!

Land's End looking towards Porthcurno, Cornwall, 06/05

Land's End looking towards Porthcurno, Cornwall, 06/05
Originally uploaded by Nick Seecharan.

29.10.05

Here's a 'poster child' for holidaying in England, if ever I saw one. It's only taken with a 'point and shoot' 35mm camera and I wish the weather had been good enough to make the sky look less drab. However, this part of our coastline is truly stunning and made me glad we decided to give England a try.

27.10.05

I can write what I like ..

.. because now that I have figured out how to access and upload all my favourite photos -- anything I am going to write from hereon in will very quickly be knocked of this page into the obscurity of the archives - and as any Google user knows to well, no one looks at the second page! Oh well, I'm sure I'll find the right balance. So this is a great shot in a natural park (name?) in the South of France near Narbonne, while visiting Dobs and his lovely lady Fabienne last November, 2004. From the left, Dobs, Me, Fabbers and Jakey relaxing after a two hour hike up this hill to check out the vista -- well worth the sweat I think anyone will agree? Matt was taking the shot. I've known these boys since 1983 and this was a very, very welcome weekend break away from my ghastly physio degree. The weather in late November was obviously a bonus. Kicked their asses at 'Le baby-foot' (that's table football) the night before over 3 hours and 'beaucoup de la biere' the strong continental type (inexplicably - for a brit - served in little egg-cupped size glasses) Why is that? This was a great way for me to work off my hangover, and them their sour grapes. Better luck next time ladies.

26.10.05

St Michael's Mount, Penzance, Cornwall

Have been getting films processed and printed for last 3 years at Panther Imaging in Farringdon, after my friend Emmanuelle showed me her South Africa pictures she had done there. You may rightly point out that a cardboard 'wedding' camera, processed in your bathroom couldn't make photos of Kruger National Park look anything less than stunning .. but anyway - they process for the professionals and produce image colour and quality better than anything I have ever experienced or seen elsewhere. So this is my first attempt at ordering my films to be processed direct to digital (CD-ROM) rather than to print. Living in a one bed flat, I guess we are just running out of space to have boxes of unused and unseen photos piling up in hidden corners. This is Jo and I on our camping trip over the summer in Cornwall - the digital format may cost more (as we still have to pay for the two or so pics of the CD that we think print/ frame worthy off every film) but at least this saves space and unnecessary use of toxic photo paper that will never see the light of day. This picture, by the way, was taken quickly in order to catch what proved to be the only 7 minutes of sunshine we enjoyed in our whole 7 days camping in Cornwall!

19.10.05

Welcome to London ..

Spotted this first of three parts about Britain's (or more specifically London's) "new" underclass - Is this the world I live in .. or should I say alongside?

This kind of story makes me feel sick to the stomach, not least because I feel so helpless to effect change. I pay my money each month to Shelter (charity begins at home after all), World Vision and WaterAid but I take no warm cosy comfort that I am 'doing my bit'. It's like our one-off cheques to the Disasters Emergency Committee whenever the body count shoots up on Channel 4 News - it's just too little (and too often in the case of the latter), too late.

So what more can we do? Give up our livlihoods so we can go and help save the disenfranchised? (that's easy, I am a student again and so I don't have one! but now I am being pedantic!). No, that's not a solution -- too easy an option to dismiss ("Well that's not practical, who can do that?"). We could all cut our hours, move to part-time - that would give us more time to try and mend our communities? But then we'd have less money, and then we'd have to cut our monthly debits to Shelter, World Vision, WaterAid ... and where will we find the means to send that 'lump sum' over to Asia the next time 100,000 unfortunate souls fall off the planet?

So many questions, not enough answers. My lecturer asked if there was any such thing as true altruism? I think he was trying to be controversial. Food for thought, however, for the serial charity direct-debiter -- is this actually making a difference, or is it making me feel better about myself; like I am 'doing my bit'? The article should be no more shocking because it is white, european and educated people who are, for a change, the disenfranchised of this story. That is not what has prompted my discomfort this morning. It's the fact that it's going on, right here on our doorstep .. but just out-of-sight. And if we angle our heads just skilfully enough, we can pretend it's not there and even if it is - "hey, I'm doing something about it, to the tune of £3/ month. That's more than most people are prepared to do" (thankyou very much).

Well clearly - and as usual - the government isn't going to do anything about it. In fact, if the article is accurate, they are responsible for the Catch 22 in which our less fortunate neighbours find themselves trapped. So, screw the direct debit - no wait! leave the direct debit! - but get out the wellies too and roll up your sleeves .. hand in your request for that part-time "social contract" please - after all, you don't need all that money and you definitely don't do anything productive for all of those 37.5- 50 hours a week. Throw to one side that VSO/ SkillShare International application (just for a while) and give your local volunteering network a call because your Country and your community needs you!

Or have I just been listening to too much Radiohead.

17.10.05

Teenage Mother

In a foolish bid to prize the "Pen is mightier than the boot" award (for the team's most humourous pen-smith) away from midfield rake, Barney Slater, I recently 'published' my own attempt ... to a contemptuous wall of silence! I'll save my immense mental acumen for an audience sophisticated enough to appreciate it next time ... and my physical efforts for warming the subs bench! So without further ado, here - unabridged - is my transcript for the Teenage Mother Monthly:

In response to some early season cat-calling from disgruntled sections of the norwich faithful, Penelope Brisket ("She dips it like a biscuit"), Editor of "Teenage Mother" Monthly asks Alan Hansen for a no-nonsense assessment of Norwich's faltering start to the this season's campaign (D-L-W), and wonders whether, after 10 years at the peak of his tactical game, the gilt-edged gloss is finally beginning to rub off Sir Alex ("Andy") Higgins strategic tool-box:

PB: Alan, following an enthralling climax (titters) to their testi-moan-ial season, some people are asking whether Sir 'Andy' has perhaps buffed his Jag one sunday morning too many and that it may be time for him to spread his load (squeals) a little more evenly in the team tactics department?

AH: Ach look, you cannot call into question the man's record and desire to win. Obviously, expectations were high going into the summer break. He's taken a reasonable squad and turned it into a title-challenging squad. He's gone away over the summer and he's picked up a few coaching badges; he's come back, scored some successes in the transfer market and you cannot blame him for wanting to try out some new ideas, but look, at the end of the day, it its not broke, why try to fix it, Ms biscuit?

PB: Some have said that football isn't at the heart of the matter, and that maybe after so long on top (oooh), his urge and desire has begun to droop (titters again)?

AH: Look, let's look at the facts here, and those are that Sir Andy is absolutely world-class. An outstanding performer, there's no other manager in the world even comes close when this man's firing on all cylinders. But maybe you have a point - with the sheer scale of the fame, the power, the wealth and the possessions that this man has accrued over the last decade, it may well be he's taken his eye off the ball - and at this level, that's got to be an absolute disaster.

PB: So questions are right to be raised about the new 3-5-2 formation that has had many eyebrows raised so far this season, and the pressure it places on the ageing menage a 'trois' at the back?

AH: Listen, a formation that leaves the talent of the Seecharan brothers on the bench and has players of the calibre of Slater questioning their inclusion in the international press is always going to be contentious. No one will be more aware of that than Sir Andy and his back-room staff. Sure, the man's got a dilemma on his hands and I'd love to have a crystal ball so I could tell you how its all going to finish at the end of the campaign. Sir Andy will want to play to his strengths - and with his iron-fisted domination of the club's footballing matters, let no one be in any doubt that he will see his vision through - But with a wee bairn on the way, and a personal fortune rising daily to approach his close friend and confidante Abramovich's, people are going to be watching Sir Andy closely to see make sure he still has the focus and hunger that has served him so well in the past, and more importantly, ensured he has always got the best out of each and every one of his squad members.

As a wise Scots man once said, Penelope - After dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile - I wouldn't bet against Norwich being there or thereabouts at the end of the season. It's little by little, as the cat eats the fish, and a Sir Andy at his tactical best is, well .. a Sir Andy at his tactical best.

PB: Thanks Alan. And finally as he prepares for this Sunday's Mother of All Battles against table-topping Aberdeen, what message do you think Sir Andy will want to leave for all those single, teenage mothers out there?

AH: Twelve highlanders and a bagpipe make a rebellion.

11.10.05

Reality Bites ..

Have been monitoring eBay for almost a year now, waiting to pay the 'right' price for the machine that is going to change my life ... Dealing with a lot of old photos? The Nikon Coolscan V promises that even a tecnophobe such as myself can turn grandad's slides into pristine digital images; and with an ease and file size that promises to put the Kodaks of this world out of business!

Anyway, it's all some fluff since what I have actually ended making a major purchase on is a digital voice recorder , so that I can record my final year of lectures in a belated bid to get the highest grades possible. The review says "it's stylish design looks the part at any executive meeting "?!! Oh great - that will be useful when I qualify next year as a Physio! This must be what if feels like to have kids!

Brotherly Love

The best birthday present Tom has ever had!
Originally uploaded by EoTT.

Well it was Tom's birthday .. sooo .. getting my buddy Delia Smith to come down to London to share a brew was the least I could do for him! Delia was later seen staring wistfully into her mineral water, and muttering something about how 33 years as a top flight celebrity and 17 million book sales later could not even come close to fulfilling her in the same way as her brief introduction with Tom! What were you doing under the table with that left hand bor?!

We love you Delia - the saviour of Norwich!

Happy Birthday Bookie!!

My Lovely 'wife' Jo celebrates her (shhhhhh ... can I mention it?? probably not ... oh hell!) 33rd birthday today October 6th. And to celebrate? Jo opted to stay at home and do DIY on the bathroom?! Clearly getting senile in your own age, my love. What did I do to mark the special day? Through no fault of my own - I have been forced to spend the day at this computer writing a college assignment that needs to be handed in at lunch time on the 7th. Sorry my love, I will make it up to you! In the meantime though, she did tell me secretly that Graham is the best present she has ever had .... wait, did I say it was here THIRTY THIRD birthday!? Happy Birthday my love, you really are unique!

Oops! Another valuable couple of study minutes bite the dust!

Zagorsk, a Golden Ring town outside Moscow
Originally uploaded by EoTT.

Hey .. I am allowed .. I've been on my death-bed for the last 5 days with some mystery throat infection (and ulcer) that meant I couldn't swallow a glass of water, or even my own saliva without excruciating agony. A trip to Accident & Emergency (A & E) sorted me out with some peace of mind (and more importantly some strong pain-killers and anti-biotics) and I am finally beginning to feel like normal again .. if it wasn't for this bastard essay that is!

1997 - Coral Cove, Koh Samui

nick_coralcove01.jpg
Originally uploaded by EoTT.

I love expressions like 'convergence technology'! In the last half hour I have realised that I can load up onto the web .. for free ... old photos that have for years been gathering dust (literally in a shoe-box, as well as metaphorically, in the recesses of an alcohol ravaged memory!). Anyway, not only are several now online, but they can be added to an online profile of me (for free) *AND* I can create and link to a blog all at the click of a mouse. Incredible stuff. The only problem with this "convergence technology"? I have an assignment to hand in just over 24 hours time and am doing everything I can to avoid this odious, boring, mind-numbing task. So, mind-boggling technology built to make my life more productive and more convenient? Excellent, I have just spent 2 hours being 'conveniently (you could say 'gloriously!') unproductive' on my college work. But, I just had to check out this technology here, see ....

03.10.05

Infected with a poison

Some weekend this turned out to be. Came up to Manchester for a final weekend with the family at the family home, before it gets sold in a couple of weeks and I spend 3 days in a daze ... and/ or asleep. You see my sore throat became a throat ulcer and infection. I have not been able to swallow even my own saliva without excrutiating pain, and that was while on a 4 hourly regime of nurofen, paracetamol and benzocaine antiseptic throat spray. Nightmare. Only a trip to Accident and Emergency and a prescription of antibiotics have finally allowed me to swallow fluids without pain. Another great reason to avoid doing my Physio assignment, which needs to be handed in 4 days time. It's all going tits up! Ho hum ...