Devonshire goodness

After a few days back in Birmingham, and via London and the Big Game 3 at Twickenham, have headed to Devon for a few days.

So currently in north Devon - walked through the empty Pannier Market in Barnstaple yesterday. Never seen it completely empty before and it had a lovely eerie architectural beauty about it...

Pannier Market - Barnstaple

Over at Woolacombe today there were a few heart souls enjoying the excellent surf - not really for me but was a stunning sky in the late afternoon light.

Surfer at Woolacombe

A bracing Christmas Day stroll

Head to Stratford Upon Avon for a morning stroll in the snow by the river - a good start to the day.

By the river

The Parish Church

River and the RSC

The quiet main street

Fancy a seat?

RSC theatre

Crisp and clear

Shakespeare's birthplace

Straight from a Richard Curtis movie?

Christmas Eve and head to the Bournville Village Green carol service. Bournville is the 'village' created by the Cadbury Brothers and the chocolate factory still looms large in the area. There is a village green and across the road is the local primary school - where I went in my earlier days - which for some unexplained reason has full carillon of bells. Each Christmas Eve the local churches have a carol service on the Green with the bells providing the music. 

It's a slightly strange south Birmingham institution. Never advertised it is well attended, and there is always the hilarity of just how out of time the singing can be with the bells due to the laws of physics and the speed of sound. Sometimes in a single carol the singing can be both behind and ahead of the music...

With the village green, the tree, and the community signing in the snow it can appear to be something straight out of a Richard Curtis movie...

Website of the week

For Christmas Eve it's vital that you track where Santa is - use the excellent NORAD Santa Tracker to make sure your delivery turns up...

What a photo??

On a couple of Christmas Day mornings I've made the most of the peace and quiet and taken photos in locations that have been a lot quieter than normal.

In 2009 it was Birmingham city centre and back in 2006 it was in the centre of London.

Wondering whether I'll venture out and do something similar this year - I'll be based in Birmingham so need think about any possible suitable locations.

Website of the week

A different and digital update of the nativity story.

So this is Christmas

 

Started the Christmas shopping today and in a moment of weakness I purchased a small Christmas tree. Also bought some lights that seem a lot more complicated than they need to be. The lights come with eight settings;

• continuation
• in waves
• sequential
• slo glo
• chasing/flash
• slow fade
• twinkle/flash
• steady on

Have to say that all seems a bit excessive - what's wrong with a simple on/off?

My so called life...

Been a bit of a strange week...

• spoke at my local church on Sunday and the subject was Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. I included a couple of comments about whether blokes have a biological clock and if so does it just tick a little quieter than it does for women? Got a lot of comments and feedback on this - most reaction I've ever had on anything I've ever said.
• was coughing and spluttering on Monday and Tuesday - seemed to be my turn on the office rota
• Thursday evening was spent at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. Very pleasant evening that got a little strange as Question Time was being recorded there that evening (not the reason I was there) and Dimbleby and the panel emerged into a cordoned off part of the bar for a post show meal - didn't recognise any of them...
• pleasant Friday afternoon in Pizza Express for office Christmas meal. However, I do seem to spend a lot of time in Pizza Expresses - perhaps should move in...

Website of the week

It doesn't matter if you are film fan or not, the best podcast out there is Mayo and Kermode Film Reviews from Radio 5 live- it's the ultimate in 'wittertainment'. Knowledgeable, great as a two presenters who clearly work well with each other, and excellent use of interacting with their audience, I can't recommend it enough.

Their podcast is available here, their website is found here and Mark Kermode's blog can be seen here.

Currently they are championing the 'Wittertainment Code of Conduct' about how to behave in a cinema - something to be applauded. The poster is the image above and below is the code in moving pictures - enjoy.

Highly recommended - and, of course, Hello to Jason Isaacs.

Football's delayed homecoming

Well if I were a betting man my predictions about the Word Cup, Russia, Qatar and England not surviving the first round would have made me a decent penny.

The real scandal is not so much Russia getting the 2018 finals. Russia has a long football history, hasn't had the World Cup and is a major nation - no reason it shouldn't have won. There will be issues - the time zones, the need to build stadia, the lack of a free press and how it deals with racism in football are all genuine concerns - but hopefully the World Cup will act as a catalyst in these areas.

The real scandal is Qatar getting the final in 2022. It has no football history, is the size of Yorkshire, doesn't have a free press and has very 'interesting' attitudes towards gay rights, women and alcohol, never mind the heat. The scandal is that Australia, a nation that has put on numerous sporting events and successful Olympic games, got one vote. Qatar scored lowest on the technical aspects, but won. England, which scored highest on its technical bid, got two votes and fell at the first step.

The acting FA chairman, Roger Burden, has withdrawn his application for the permanent post as he'd have to deal with people he didn't trust. I understand his sentiment but don't think that's the answer. Be bold - campaign for open voting, not secret ballots, publish minutes or transcripts of all meetings you have with FIFA officials whether they like it or not - shine the spotlight don't retreat.

It's only through transparency that reform will happen. It won't be easy - but this may be FIFA's 'Salt Lake City' moment. There could be momentum here with the USA, Japan and Australia equally annoyed. Campaign vigorously for reform and do it from within FIFA - people are waking up to just how bad FIFA is - now is the time.

Football coming home?

Have to say I was disappointed with Panorama on FIFA on Monday night - if nothing else a programme that enables David Mellor to take the moral high ground will always leave a bitter aftertaste. However, what really disappointed is that showing FIFA is less than transparent and might have some dodgy members is a bit like shooting fish in a barrel. What for the next two programmes - hard hitting investigations in to the Pope's religious views and what bears might get up to in the woods??

Some of the allegations were new but hardly surprising - indeed Andrew Jennings has been investigating FIFA and other sporting bodies for many years and runs the excellent Transparency in Sport website. How will this impact the England bid? Well I'm tempted to say 'who cares'? But I suspect the impact will be limited - I doubt England were ever going to get the 2018 Finals. For what it's worth here's how I think the FIFA meeting will pan out...

2018 - the best bid is England. It's probably the only bidder who could hold the finals tomorrow, it has a football culture, excellent grounds, sound finances and innovative TV companies who could provide the pictures. They won't win. The Spain/Portugal bid will get several votes early on but both have had a finals - World Cup or Euros - fairly recently and giving them the finals with their current economies is risky. I think Russia will win - they haven't had the finals and are a 'new market', have serious money and a 'friendly' media. The outside bet would be Holland/Belgium - if they survive the first round (and I think either they or England will go out in round one) they might emerge as a compromise winner. If Putin turns up I think Russia will walk it.

2022 - should go to Australia. Football may not be the most popular sport in Aus, but they are sports mad and know how to put on big sporting occasions. They are also a 'new market' but the main thing against them is the time zone and what time the games would be in the important European and African TV markets. Japan and South Korea have recently (jointly) held the finals so I think either USA or Qatar will win. The USA if FIFA are seduced by the $ and trying to get 'soccer' to finally break America; Qatar will win if seduced by the money, the sun and a completely new market. I reckon Qatar might, surprisingly, sneak it.

All will be clear later on Thursday...

A different approach to the Nativity

For a different take on the Nativity story suggest you dip in to the The Natwivity.

You can follow on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook.

A classy flash mob

From those crazy canucks...

This is bringing culture and arts to the people - very enjoyable.



Hattip to the excellent Richard Littledale blog.

Website of the week

Now we all know there are various dating and matchmaking websites out there. But forget about Match.com or eHarmony. May be Guardian Soulmates or even Sarah Beeny's My Single Friend is more your thing.

Perhaps... but there is an alternative. Welcome to The Ugly Bug Ball.

I know - I'm showing far too much knowledge about this...

By Christmas it'll all be over - well just after actually...

In a month it'll all be over.

I find the long run up to Christmas all a bit annoying - yep, we're into grumpy old man territory here - and the fact that some shops started selling Christmas decorations in August is just, well, wrong. I have a rule that I don't really discuss Christmas, or start Christmas shopping, until the start of December.

Today I broke that rule. At a craft fair I purchased a couple of things that I'll be giving as presents.

I feel so dirty...

That was the week that was

It's been a strange old week or two.

Busy, in that things I committed to a few weeks or months ago have all suddenly come along. Good, in that I caught up with some people who I'd not seen for a while - always good to catch up with old friends. Tiring, it was just too busy and tipped from being 'good busy' to 'bad busy'.

The week ended with an invitation to a performance of Random - a one person short play looking at the impact one day's events has on a family written by Debbie Tucker Green. The performance was stunning, comic, poetic and powerful. Perhaps I should have stayed and chatted with people over a drink afterwards - but the combination of the play, and a long week or two, led to a polite decline but a thoughtful bus ride home.

As I said - a strange week or two...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - part 1

So the end is nigh and the final part of the Harry Potter series makes it way to the big screen - in two parts.

Firstly, the decision to split the final book is correct - to limit it to one film would be doing it a disservice, especially after all the years it's taken the series to get this far. Secondly, the end of this part is in the exact right spot. The nearest cinematic equivalent I can think off is the end of the Empire Strikes Back - it's also a film that has similarly dark moments. Thirdly, if for some bizarre reason you've not seen or read parts 1-6 yet go to see this, then you won't have a clue what's going on. The film assumes knowledge of what has passed previously. But is it any good??

It's beautifully shot with a bleached/wash out look. The story is fine and although it weighs in at around 2.5 hours it rarely drags. It is a dark story but there are some moments of humour and there are also some beautifully played passages. However...

The film concentrates on Harry, Ron and Hermione - the other characters are rarely on screen yet when they are the screen is completely lit up. Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter are excellent but are there for fleeting moments. A lot falls to the three young leads to carry the film - and to be honest I'm not sure they do. The simple fact is that the older actors are miles better than any of the younger cast.

After a while your mind can wander. I know Hermione has created a bottomless bag but just how many outfits did she manage to pack? Harry is 16-17 years old - has anyone not told him to get some trendier specs?

The leads are all great looking - special mention must go to Emma Watson's stylist as Herminone looks nothing less than wonderfully attired throughout - but sometimes it looks like a shoot for the latest Boden ad campaign rather than a film.

Overall it's good film, but you felt it could have been some much better.

A picture worth a thousand words

Friday evening I popped in to the Royal Festival Hall to have a look at the World Press Photo exhibition. I've managed to see this the last few years and would highly recommend seeing it if you get the chance.

The photos contained their usual mix of beautiful and challenging images portraying joy and hardship. Images of Gaza and the rioting in Madagascar are particularly tough, but there are also images of great beauty such as those of the wildlife in South Georgia, Antarctica. I particularly liked some stunning photos of Barrack Obama's inauguration - from a private moment backstage to addressing the mass crowds in the National Mall.

The winning photo was of the rooftop protests that accompanied the Iranian demonstrations following the last election. I have to admit I didn't agree with the choice - it's the right story but I felt other photos were better images that were more powerful or conveyed the situation better.

But what do I know? Look for yourself - the winning photos can be seen here. There is also a magnificent archive.

Back to Blogging?

The blogging has been on a bit of break. It wasn't intended.

I was away at the end of August and during some of September. When I returned various other things got in the way and the blogging took a back seat. It wasn't designed, and I've missed doing it. Twitter has been good - I can be followed @smittyonline - but occasionally I need more than 140 characters. So, another attempted reboot.

I've taken the opportunity to slightly tweak the design and hopefully some semi regular blogging will return. Though no promises - there have been a couple of abortive restarts in recent history

Knight and Day

Stars of Top Gear (see here) Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz are the leads in this summer chase movie. Cruise plays an agent - is he rogue or not? - who is trying to stop the baddies from getting a source of power, some sort of super battery that can power a small town yet is the size of a AA. He meets Cameron, an innocent woman who restores old cars and is returning to her sister's wedding, on a flight and chaos and chasing ensues.

It's a pretty formulaic chase movie with various backdrops from around the world - USA, Azores, the Alps - and you're not going to find deep meaning in it. But as a light comedy caper movie it's okay. Like many movies these days it's 20 minutes too long, and could have done with editing back to 90 minutes, but the leads are likeable and engaging.

Both Cruise and Cameron have aged well - Cameron is stunning, though I can't help thinking of Wallace and Gromit films when I see her - and both are good at light comedy, Cameron especially. It's not going win awards and it could be better, but as sort of 'no brainer North by Northwest style chase film updated for the noughties' you could do worse.

A light 'popcorn movie' - but once in a while we all need one of those.

Website of the week

Apparently in the USA Old Spice has move on from Carmina Burana and surfing and is experiencing an upsurge in sales (see here) due to viral ads like these...







No sure what my Grandad - who always used Old Spice - would have made of it...

And for the nostalgia fiends...

All of the above?

Was filling out an equality monitoring questionaire the other day. Got to a question on sexual orientation - the options were;
a) Heterosexual/straight
b) Gay/lesbian
c) Bisexual
d) Other
e) Prefer not to say

Other?!? Wasn't sure whether to be slightly scared or whether I'm missing out on something...

Biking with Boris

Have taken the plunge and signed up with Boris' bike scheme.

It could be very useful - a cheap and pleasant way of getting around central London, especially in the summer.

Early impressions are good as my activation key arrived very promptly - the next day in fact. Not sure how it will work out but will update once I've had a go.

Mind you - the phrase 'with hilarious consquences' keeps coming to mine for some reason. Large slow bikes with inexperienced cyclists going around central London - what could possibly go wrong...

Just like buses... but in a good way!

It's been a busy few weeks - well months actually - and for me, like for many who work in the Westminster village, the run up to the summer recess has been full on and very busy. This year the 'summer madness' seemed to start earlier than ever.

Given that, it was lovely to spend three evenings this week catching up with friends over food and drink. Always good to see them, all are excellent company - it's the sort of thing I don't do enough.

So, having had a busy time, and having seemingly put my social life on hold for a few months, it was a little 'bus like' when three wonderful evenings came along at once.

Slightly ironic perhaps - a busy spell in my social life highlights that I need to get one!

Leaving

The story in Leaving (Partir) is not particularly original - but it is one of several recent French films to hit the UK for which that doesn't matter. It's a simple story, well told.

Kristen Scott Thomas is the housewife of a successful doctor - she has a nice middle class life complete with stylish house and two great children. Then, when renovation is carried out on the property, she falls for the builder and starts a passionate affair, eventually leaving her husband. The film follows this story.

Some parts are better than others - for example, I don't think the scene where she confesses to her husband is either realistic or good. Equally, sometimes you actually wonder whether you like any of the characters at all. Nonetheless it remains a neat little drama - a bit Lady Chatterley meets Romeo and Juliet maybe, but still a worthwhile trip to the cinema. If nothing else you get to see another great performance by Kristen Scott Thomas.

Perhaps still best known for the posh and bitchy Fiona in Four Weddings and a Funeral, a very English role in a very English film, her best performances have been her ones in recent French films. There may be a slight irony with a seemly quintessentially 'English actress' doing her best work in French films, but with Leaving, Tell No One and the truly excellent I've Loved You So Long she has recently put together some sublime work.

Website of the week

Sometimes when the news is a little too annoying or worrying then head over to newsbiscuit - although occasionally some of the stories they have seem way too real...

Inception

The basic plot of Inception is pretty good - the bloke from Titanic and the bloke from Third Rock from the Sun can get in to people's dreams. Once there they can steal ideas or thoughts and they either do this 'to contract' or sell to the highest bidder.

Titanic bloke - for reasons never really satisfactorily explained - can't go back to the USA and see his kids. Then, one day, he is offered a way back. The price? To go in to someone's mind and plant a thought in their subconscious that leads them to commence a chain of events to the hirer's benefit.

It's a good set up. Unfortunately it doesn't really go anyway in a fulfilling way. Talk of level two, level three, triggers and dreams within dreams seem impressive - but when you stand back for a moment you just think.. meh!

The effects are good - including the scenes of weightlessness in a lift - and it's wonderfully stylish. You just can't help think this a bit 'Matrix lite.' If you're a 14 year old boy it's probably deep and brilliant. For the rest of us we actually become a little envious of the sleeping and dreaming the characters do - a quick kip and dreaming would probably be more enthralling that sitting and watching the film.

Website(s) of the week

Well given yesterday's entertainment it's only right I highlight some sites from the sci-fi world...

Perhaps you want to have your own R2D2? In that case there is the R2 D2 builders club

Or you could join the Heroes Alliance UK

Or you could just make new friends and join the League of the Non-aligned

The geeks shall inherit the earth...

Been a busy week at work and wanted a Saturday completely off. On the train last night an advert for the London Film and Comic Con caught my eye. Well, although I'm a bit geeky this would be differentand so I headed off. Was a bit worried whilst queuing as some people in front were dressed as Harry Potter - there was also the obligatory stormtroopers.
Didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised - various stands from comics to how to build your own R2D2, some talks, and opportunities to get signed autographs from various cult and sci-fi actors, like the two in the picture.

A couple of things did intrigue me. Numerous people dressed up - not just as stormtroopers but as Dr Who and assistant, as manga characters and even as Jessica Rabbit. Not something I'd do but fair play to them - they'd spent a lot of time and effort on the costumes and it's a safe environment in which to dress up; the worst that'll happen is people will want to take your photo. This is linked to the second thing. It wasn't just Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons types who were there, or indeed dressing up. In fact there were very few Comic Book Guys. The crowd was surpringly young - like at the Bon Jovi concerts I was 'above average' in age - and I'd guess 40% were women, including those in costume.

Stereotypes were suitably dented and a very enjoyable couple of hours - I'll be back.

And for those who don't know the photo is of Kenny Baker (R2D2 in Star Wars) and Dave Prowse (Darth Vadar and the Green Cross Code Man).

Unknown danger of cigarettes

Been a bit of funny/strange weekend. Very bitty and though I've not had any major commitments there has been a fair few 'odds and ends' I've done - from catching up on a few work things, to buying some towels and being slightly too happy when I also bought a matching bath mat (I know, perhaps a cry for help!), to serving some food to a group of visiting Belgian teens and again proving that my French is truly appalling/shameful.

I've also managed to spot the odd funny thing. Driving this afternoon I stopped at traffic lights. Checking in the rear view it was very amusing to watch the woman in the car behind take a drag from her cigarette, go to flick the ash out of her window, then realise that her window wasn't actually open as she got showered with the hot ash.

If you saw it in a sitcom you wouldn't believe it - but it happened and was very amusing...

I don't like cricket...

.. and whilst I wouldn't say I love it, I do enjoy it.

So after work last night I headed to the Oval - sorry, The Brit Oval - to watch, somewhat strangely, Kent v Essex.

I've not followed much Twenty 20 cricket - the short form of the game - but can see it's attractions. A chance for the batters to innovate new shots, fielding becomes an important skill as every shot and run counts, and good, tight bowling is rewarded.

It's all done in a manageable time frame of 3 hours - no commitment of four days and the result still being a draw - yet even in this shortened form the game can ebb and flow, as this one did.

I wouldn't want this to become the only form of cricket - and there is always the fear that the administrators will over commit to T20 thus ruining part of its attraction - but with some friends after work in wonderful weather it's definitely a very pleasant way to start the weekend.

And the reason England are out of the World Cup?

Here's a radical thought - perhaps the players just aren't good enough?

Often we blame the FA, the manager, or the players being tired but none of these arguments hold true.

• The FA? Say what you like about them - and there is a lot, I mean a lot, to criticise - but they do invest in the national team. Good facilities, good back room staff and good logistical support. They've not always been like this - but most of the of the other FAs, especially the smaller ones who don't have the English FA's resources, would love to have the support the English FA supply,
• The manager? The last three have all been successful outside the England job - even the 'wally with the brolly' has shown that he is a good manager by winning the Dutch league, and not with one of the 'glamour' teams
• Poor 'man-management'? The last three managers have (a) been laid back and tried to treat the players as adults and let them make choices, (b) tried to be the players' friend, and (c) had a strict regime. The players haven't responded to any of these approaches and I'm not sure what other options are actually left.
• The players are tired? Rubbish. None of the England team were in the Champions League final and many of the other teams have key players who are based in the English, or other European, leagues and it doesn't seem to have hindered them.

The simple fact is the only constant has been the players. We desperately need to see the Emperor's New Clothes that is the Premier League and how truly 'world class' our players are. The EPL is great entertainment, it may be the wealthiest league in the world, but it's not the best. Virtually no English players are 'world class' - very few would make it into the other top national teams starting 11 - and those who are labelled as such, e.g. Rooney, have consistently failed on the big stages of the World Cup/Euro championship.

Let's accept it - we don't have, and have never had, a 'golden generation'. The players are good, but are over hyped and not world beaters. They are technically poor - they lose possession and cannot adapt tactics to the situation as was clearly shown in today's game. At best they've been a 'bronze generation' (insert gag here about footballers wives and fake tan...). Let's be honest, a last 16 finish is about right.

What would I do next? Little - Capello is still the best manager for the job given who he can pick, and remember England qualified with relative ease. If he goes then either call the players' bluff and get Hiddink, or if we need an English manager get in Hodgson who works well with 'lower level' players as demonstrated with his spells as the Swiss manager and at Fulham.

What can you do? Give up the Premier League - don't believe the hype. The EPL is good fun - but it's not top quality. Get in touch with real lower level and the grassroots. Support your local team - not a 'brand'. Learn to love good technical football - not the kick & rush we see every week. It may not give as much 'excitement' and it will need to be for the long term - but it's the only way England will ever become 'world class'.

Making the most of the weather...

Not 100% sure I made the most of the weather - was very tempted to stay in and watch a variety of sports related TV programming - but went out for a delightful, and hot, cycle ride around the home counties/Thames valley.

So, for a few hours I pottered around Windsor, the Eton College boating lake (where the 2012 rowing will be held) and around Cliveden and Cookham.

Always surprises me that just outside London, just by the M4 or M25, and just under the Heathrow flight path you can find fields and small villages, complete with local churches and summer fayres.

Everything is All White now

Well at least one team playing in white know how to play football. I was in a bar/restaurant when NZ scored v Italy - the Kiwi barman was beside himself. I don't think he could quite believe it.

What I don't understand is how a team made of some professionals, some 'unattached' players, one who didn't seem to make the grade at AFC Wimbledon, and some who are amateurs and have jobs in the real world could hold their own against the current World Cup holders, yet the multimillionaire 'stars' who play in the 'greatest league in the world' could barely string a pass together against a very weak Algeria.

Go NZ, go All Whites - I guess that's why it's the beautiful game.

World Cup - so how's it going so far...

Another very funny World Cup related tweet from The Onion;

"South African Vuvuzela Philharmonic Angered By Soccer Games Breaking Out During Concerts http://onion.com/dkwWFJ"

Well, the World Cup is going pretty much as normal - cagey first matches many of which are dull, the odd shock result (go Switzerland and the All Whites!), and England being rubbish. I don't know why it should surprise me as it's par for the course, but the inability of the England team to string two passes together is incredible. Perhaps, finally the Emperor's New Clothes that is the Premier League (the greatest league in the world?) will be noticed.

However, do not panic. I've just read All Played Out by Pete Davies, just reissued by Yellow Jersey Press as One Night in Turin. It follows England in the 1990 World Cup - and we forget just how bad England were in the group stages there. We started with two draws...

It's an excellent book which delves behind the scenes of the World Cup, the England team, and the press that follow them. The access Pete Davies had would be impossible today and it's a world before email, satellite TV and one where hooliganism was a real issue. There are lots of stories around Gazza, Waddle and Lineker, Platt breaking through during the tournament, and just what a polite and good man Bobby Robson was; and how badly he was treated by the FA.

If you're a football fan you'll love it - a witty and incisive account of football when it seemed a bit simpler.

Website of the week

Don't know what your view of the World Cup is but the often excellent The Onion has had done some wonderful tweeting on its twitter feed (here). Favourites so far include;

• Center Forward: runs up and down the field to keep himself and his teammates awake
• Sweeper: called this for the same reason damn near everything has some other word for it in Europe
• Game clock: runs at random times for no reason and is ignored by players and officials alike
• Referees: decide if a minor penalty receives a yellow, canary, goldenrod, blond or marigold card 

They have also done a very handy introduction to world-cup soccer. And they say Americans don't understand association football.

You mean there was a football match?

I didn't watch the football last night - though I caught the 'highlights' and to be honest didn't seem I'd missed much - as I went to see the excellent Julie Fowlis.

Have to say it's slightly weird going to a concert when there is a big England world cup match on - especially as the band are very Scottish and sing in Gaelic. However, being on the same evening gave it a real intimate feeling. Ticket sales were perhaps lower than expected so to make best use of the space the venue had arranged the seating in to 'cabaret' style which also added to atmosphere. The combination of that, a smaller audience (around 200) who really wanted to be there, and an excellent group made for a wonderful evening's concert.

Julie Fowlis hails from North Uist in the Outer Hebrides and sings traditional style Celtic folk in Scots Gaelic. She possesses a wonderful voice and was BBC Radio2 Folk Singer of the Year in 2008. The evening was a winning combination of that sublime voice, four other very talented musicians, and good humour and charm between the songs all in a pleasant and intimate venue. Her current tour has played/is playing some great venues, including Union Chapel in London on Thursday. Heartily recommend catching her in concert if you can.

So a interesting week musically. Monday night was thousands seeing Bon Jovi start their O2 residency. Saturday around 200 watching a folk gig. Both good and both very different in numerous ways - and if I'm honest, I enjoyed the the Julie Fowlis slightly more. If nothing else there was also something funny about being updated with the score from the England game. "It's 1-1. Really? Oh, that's a shame." I *suspect* her tongue was firmly in her cheek.

A bit of rough?

Am I the only one who finds David Cameron's "Come on England!" a bit, well, embarassing?

Reminds me of the posh boy at school pretending he's into football to make friends when really he's a 'rugger' boy through and through.

And they're off

Finally the World Cup is under way - and what a wonderful few weeks we have in prospect. The first finals in Africa, the beautiful backdrop of one of the most stunning countries on earth, and the culmination of the sport of the masses being held in a country where the masses were oppressed for so long.

Above all it looks to be a wide open contest and one where England have a sensible and talented manager - even though we still possess an over-hyped team.

And what a start - somehow fitting for the hosts to score first and with such a good goal. Though not sure their celebrations should be encouraged!


So, three predictions from me;

• South Africa will get through the group stage - France won't
• England will lose to the USA but will get to the quarter finals
• The refereeing will be good overall - but there will be one howler that will cost a team dear, but a 'minnow'

Enjoy!

All the way up to 11 - again

Spent last night at the opening concert of the Bon Jovi 'residency' at the O2.

As I've said before, I'm not a massive fan and they'll never be cool, but a good chance to catch up with a friend (a Bon Jovi fan) and you have to say the band know what they are doing. They did a good, tight 2 & half hour set mixing some new stuff with all the fans' favourites. It's basically a mass singalong with the band.

Two observations. First, the O2 really has changed from it's old incarnation as the Dome, and even from when I went to the first concert there a couple of years ago. It's a good venue and, unlike Wembley, pretty easy to get to/from on public transport, plus there are numerous bars and restaurants. Overall it's pretty impressive.

Second - I'm going to give up on trying to work out the Bon Jovi fanbase. They are a rock band who've been around for 25 years so you'd expect lots of middle aged blokes in demin? You'd be wrong. Me and my mate are both 39 and probably amongst some of the oldest there. Yes you'll still find the odd aging rocker - but most fans are in their 20s with a pretty even gender split, if not slightly more women. I find it bizarre that you're more likely to come across groups of women attending than blokes. I don't understand it, but can't knock it - the group know what they do and do it well.

Basically they've found a winning formula - and whilst they are never going to win masses of critical acclaim - you can't begrudge them their success.

Nothing like a Dame

Can't recall which royal said it - one of the George's I think - but 'bugger Bognor' seems about right. I thought I'd stay in a place on the coast but unfortunately I've chosen Bognor Regis... I've never been here before - if I had I doubt I'd have made that mistake.

To be fair it's like many other British seaside towns - it's a bit down on it's luck and I can't work out whether the large Butlin's resort is a blessing - still attracting tourists - or a curse - it sucks life out of the resort as they never have to leave the Butlin's bubble.

Nonetheless I discover that, like many seaside towns, once you escape the rather run down centre you can come across some nice places - in Margate you have the interesting Cliftonville, in Bognor you have Aldwick and Pagham. I manage to find a wonderful neighbourhood Italian restaurant with great homemade tiramisu and all is right with the world.

So after the 'delights' of Bognor last night, this morning I headed to Littlehampton. Again, like many small seaside towns I can't help but ask what is the point of Littlehampton? What do all the people who live here actually do?

Well, it doesn't matter as it has a certain charm - and the excellent East Beach Cafe. Somewhat surreally, as I tuck in to a lovely lunch, I discover that Dame Maggie Smith is sat a couple of tables away. Interestingly it's not the adults who've spotted her but some of the smaller children - they can spot a Hogwarts professor a mile off. With minimal fuss - most people still don't spot her - she discreetly signs a couple of autographs and is left to enjoy her lunch in piece with her friends and family.

I discover that this is not the only thespian connection Littlehampton has. Apparently Ronnie Barker used to live there and based Open All Hours on a local shop... small world...

Culture in Chichester

Have escaped London for a couple of days and today am in a damp Chichester. Spend the morning going around the excellent Pallant House Gallery with its wonderful collection of 20th century British art - a good selection of work including several by Peter Blake, Patrick Caulfield, and currently showing several pieces by some of the St Ives artists. Following a restorative coffee and chocolate cake - well it was raining and I needed something purely for medicinal purposes - I head to the Chichester Festival Theatre.

By a stroke of luck I've got about the last ticket to Yes, Prime Minister - not a rerun, but a complete new show written by the original team of Anthony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. I'm one of the oldest in the audience - but then it was last on our screens back in 1988!

Written by Jay and Lynn, and directed by Lynn, this is a bang up to date version of the show, complete with references to SpADs, sub prime mortgages and the hung parliament. The writing is as sharp as ever - combining biting political satire with moments of pure farce - as the events unfold over a weekend at Chequers.

I have to admit I was a bit nervous seeing this as the original was so loved - plus could anyone else than Nigel Hawthorne and Paul Eddington play Sir Humphrey Appleby and Jim Hacker? The answer is a clear yes! Excellent casting with the wonderful Henry Goodman as Sir Humphrey, and David Haig (who has also been in the politically sharp The Thick of It) combining bumbling incompetence with political opportunism as Jim Hacker. Full of laughs it has had good reviews and deserves a West End transfer. A wonderful antidote to the damp bank holiday weather.

A local cinema for local people

Spent last Saturday cycling around the Sussex Weald - lovely small villages, quiet country lanes and some disused railway were the 40 mile route I covered. Have to admit I was completed shredded by the end of it so, with trusty cycle safely lashed to the roof bars, I headed in to Uckfield to watch a film.

What a delightful cinema the Picture House Uckfield is. A wonderful local cinema - on the high street, with lots of history (it's been showing films since 1920), and good value. It's clearly a well run, well loved local cinema - such a refreshing change from the 'retail park' chains or the hacked about Odeon's that used to one big screen but have been converted to multi-screen.

Best things were you could take wine into the showing - they had a good slection of red or whites available - and there were no trailers or adverts, straight in to the film. Admittedly I sort of missed of the trailers - but it's was sign that it was run by film fans for films fans - you've come to watch the movie, not the latest Radio 1 advert.

Should you ever be in East Sussex and fancy a film then head here - such gems should be encouraged and supported.

Website of the week

Blogging has been light of late - too much going on - but hope to start reposting a bit more soon.

Anyway, have found one way to save time. Don't know if you're still following Lost and looking forward to the final part when 'all will be revealed' - personally I gave up at the start of season two.

But if you need a quick catch up - then see the first 5 seasons condensed in to 10 mins here as done by the wonderful Reduced Shakespeare Company.

How old is too old?

A strange couple of days for various reasons. Generally feeling a bit 'restless' with a few things on my mind. Wondering a bit about age - probably something to do with being the 'awkward age' of 39. For example;

• on Sunday I was wondering at what should a man give up wearing hooded tops - unless you're a monk?
• yesterday, for the first time ever, I gave my 'business card' to a couple of people. They were sort of 'homemade' - thank goodness for the variety of stationery Ryman offers - to save the public purse. Surely I'm too old to be giving business cards for the first time?
• Today I phoned a recruitment firm about a job advert I'd seen a couple of days ago. Another first, but it was an interesting looking job and they'd advertised the salary as 'competitive'. The discussion showed it wasn't as 'competitive' as they thought - but am I now too expensive?
• been thinking about 'age' for a couple of other reasons as well.

As I said - a strange week so far - and it's only Tuesday!

That was the week that was

Well, it's been a surprising week and not quite what a lot were expecting. Have to admit I'm very surprised that it's a formal and full coalition government rather than a 'supply and confidence' agreement. Could be a genuinely new era in politics. My observations so far;

• credit where due. All three party leaders were at their best - all 'statesmenlike' and pretty clear and open,
• Given coalition is new territory for Westminster politics we managed to get a pretty quick answer to the government question - credit to the staffers and the Cabinet Office teams,
• Gordon Brown looked a new man - a weight lifted. For once we saw his warmth. Sense he feels a burden lifted and who could begrudge him that? May he enjoy time with his family - for whom he showed real warmth,
• surprised David Cameron has given so much up - five Cabinet posts and various ministerial roles - did he need to? Then again, such a full coalition could be a very clever political move as it could neutralise the 'lunatic fringe' of both parties
• notice how on going to Buckingham Palace Gordon Brown had police outriders and a rolling roadblock, but on leaving he didn't? It's the little things that former ministers will notice in the coming days - no Private Office organising your diary and telling you where you should be, no ministerial car and driver, and for some like the ex-PM, the return to having to sit in traffic jams

Be very interesting to see how the next few weeks pan out!

What happens next??

Some thoughts on an interesting past 12 hours and what may happen next.

When anybody talks about ‘moral authority’ or ‘moral victory’ it’s because they don’t have the actual authority or victory. Each of the parties have flawed claims to become the government and here’s why.

• Conservatives – yes they are the biggest party and got the most votes. But the electorate hasn’t given them a clear mandate – it’s almost as if the electorate wanted change, but were not entirely convinced by the Conservatives so didn’t hand them a clear victory in order to ‘keep them honest.’ Also have the problem that they only have one MP in Scotland – so not a clear UK wide mandate either.

• Labour – clearly the electorate doesn’t want them as the sole party in power, or indeed in power at all. A massive loss in their vote – both in seats and percentage terms. Also have the issue that 41 of their 258 MPs are Scottish and would be able to vote on issues that affect England (and Wales) but, with devolved government, have no impact on their constituency; the tricky ‘West Lothian question’ posed by Tam Dalyell. To remain in government when clearly rejected by the electorate, and be supported by so many Scottish MPs (and possibly the SNP as well) to such an extent, raises issues about their ‘mandate’.

• Lib Dems – seem to be kingmakers but have been compromised. According to the polls people wanted to vote for them, but they couldn’t actually bring themselves to do so once in the voting booth. If they came to support Labour, who have been rejected, they leave themselves open to accusations of selling out to gain office and propping up a busted government. Supporting the Conservatives won't be popular within the party.

So it’s tricky... what should happen?

Well, if I was Nick Clegg I’d say that the Lib Dems will abstain in the vote on the Queen’s Speech – the first vote of ‘confidence’. That puts the decision back to Labour – do they brazen it out and risk defeat? In effect you’re offering Labour the chance to ‘do the honourable thing’. It shows that you’re not going to sell out just to gain power, won’t risk a split your party, and is not denying the result of the electorate. Above all it allows a space to breathe and then puts the onus on to the Conservatives to try to form a government, but is also telling them not to do anything stupid.

What will happen?

Still think a Conservative minority government - with a 'confidence and supply' arrangement with the Lib Dems is the most likely option – but may not happen for a few days.

Who knows – perhaps Caroline Lucas should be asked to try and form a rainbow coalition...

How good were my predictions??

Not bad - but not good.

No Cabinet Ministers lost their seat, BNP didn't win a seat and I overstated the Lib Dem share of the vote. Got the Balls and Bercow races completely wrong.

Pretty good guesses for the number of Cons seats, and the Cons share and Labour share of vote. Also pretty accurate on turnout and that the Greens would win a seat.

So, marginally better than a chicken pecking random guesses on a piece of paper...

One aside. Was dissappointed that Dr Richard Taylor, the local doctor who was the truly independent MP for Wyre Forest, wasn't returned as an MP. He only just lost out to the Conservatives. Whatever your politics he was an intelligent, independent and local voice in a Parliament that is largely media focussed on national issues and with few characterful and individually thinking MPs. He will be missed.

Vote early, vote often?

Well, it's V day (or E day??) - time to make your mark.

Voted earlier - interestingly there was quite a queue - never had that before.

Final predictions...

• Share of vote - Con 38%, Lab 27%, Lib Dem 27%, Other 8% - mainly I think the polls still understate the Conservatives
• Turnout - 65% - up on last time but not a massive amount. For those engaged by the debates I suspect there are nearly as many who are even more turned off by the whole process for a variety of reasons
• Largest party - Cons but short of an overall maj. My guess is 305 seats
• The 'it's not fair' moment - Lib Dems still won't get nearly as many seats as their vote warrants. I think such a perverse result will mean this will be the last 'first past the post' election with a move to the Alternative Vote
• Shocks - three Cabinet Ministers will lose their seats; BNP and Green will each get a seat.

For a different take to the telly - it might be worth dipping into http://tweetminster.co.uk/ once in a while.

See you 'on the other side'...

Kick Ass

I've real mixed feelings about this film. A graphic novel with a cult following becoming a movie that was initially turned down by all the major studios but has been very successful sounds like a good story.

The basic premise about how super heroes are really just ordinary people deep down is interesting.

It's well made with a good cast - Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong - and has good special effects. It should be a good popcorn movie - so why did it leave me with a bitter taste, so much that I'd actually say this is a movie to be avoided?

I think I felt uncomfortable due to the cartoon, yet graphic violence. The character of 11 year old Hit Girl left me really uneasy with her love of violence and 'potty mouth'. Perhaps I'm just gettting old, perhaps I'm just really out of touch and not as open or liberal as I thought - either way it just didn't feel right. I certainly don't think it should have received a 15 certificate.

The 'majority view' of the critics is that this is a pretty good film - see Peter Bradshaw's Guardian review. Time Out offers a middling review here. Interestingly Roger Ebert, the doyen of US critics, is not a fan and even calls it 'morally reprehensible' (see here) - which is very strong stuff from him.

See it and make up your own mind - but personally I think it's one to avoid.

Website of the week

Sometimes you just want to watch a stadium blow up as part of a controlled demolition.

No? Just me then? OK, well you won't want to click here then.

Whip It!

You're a very successful actress who has starred in some of the biggest movies of all time. You're a very sucessful producer who has produced some of the biggest hits in recent years. You're part of a family that is a holiday dynasty. You want to make a directorial debut and someone pitches you a movie set in small town Texas about female roller derbies. This comes across as a good idea?

Who ever persuaded Drew Barrymore to make her directorial debut with this film may have at first seemed a bit mad - but they weren't, it was a surprisingly good idea.

Set in small town Texas Whip It is a female coming of age film where an intelligent young teen finds more to life than beauty pageants by stumbling in to female roller derby. It should be dreadful - it isn't. Gentle and amusing, but with a little bite in the script, it really benefits from a strong cast which includes Barrymore, Ellen Page and Juliet Lewis.

It is not flawed - it could be 20mins shorter, a couple of characters aren't really developed as well as you might like, and Jimmy Fallon's character as the roller derby MC could have been consigned to the cutting room floor in its entirety without losing anything - but it's different. You get involved. You what to know what happens. You engage with the characters, especially the parents who are particularly well drawn. It's an unexpected delight.

Worth watching - and any film that includes a T shirt of 80s Christian metal rock band Stryper as a plot point can't be bad.

Three Election Predictions

Always a dangerous thing but here goes...

1. The 'other parties' will be successful
There were only two MPs in the old Parliament who were truly independent - Richard Taylor, the NHS doctor who has been the Wyre Forest MP since 2001, and George Galloway of Respect in Bethnal Green. Boundary changes mean Galloway is standing in the Poplar & Limehouse seat and will probably struggle to win. Taylor is again standing in Wyre Forest and a lot will depend on how strong a local vote he can still draw. Nontheless, outside the 'normal parties' - Con, Lab, Lib Dem, N Irish, Welsh and Scottish - I suspect that one or two of the 'fringe' parties will either come a good second or even nick a seat. Ones to watch are,

• Stoke on Trent Central - where given a 'parachuted in' Labour candidate and a couple of strong independents who could further split the left wing vote, the BNP, who already have a strong presence on the council, might take the seat.
• Barking - again a strong BNP presence on the local council and a disaffected 'working class' Labour vote could mean the BNP winning - Nick Griffin polled over 16% of the vote and nearly came second in 2005.
• Buckingham - the constituency of John Bercow, the Speaker, and so tradition means the main parties don't field a candidate. However, Bercow is on the left of the Conservatives, Buckingham has been a traditional right leaning Conservative area, there is local dissatifaction with Bercow and Nigel Farage is the UKIP candidate. Anything could happen.
• Brighton Kemptown - should be a strong Green vote here. Not enough to win but will be a good second place.

2. There will be at least one 'Portillo moment'
Hot favourite for this is Ed Balls to lose his seat. Boundary changes mean a 'notional' majority of 9000 but the local Conservative candidate is running a clever and high profile campaign - including raising decent money on the internet. I suspect Balls, a disliked by the public Cabinet Minister in a disliked government, is very worried.

However, there could also be a few other shocks - how about Jacqui Smith in Redditch? Or even perhaps Jack Straw in Blackburn and Harriet Harman in Camberwell & Peckham? The latter two would be big shocks, but this is a funny election.


3. The winner will be...
A few weeks ago I would have predicted the Conservatives with a small majority - but the rise of the Lib Dems means I'm going to slightly change this. I think it will be a hung parliament - but there won't be a coalition. I reckon we will have a minority Conservative government.

My thinking is based on this. There are 650 seats so an absolute majority requires 326 MPs. However, when you take into account the Speaker and Deputy Speakers, a couple of Independents, the NI, Scottish and Welsh parties I reckon that a party with 300 MPs could provide a workable government and not require a formal coalition. Sensible policies will get enough cross party support to be passed, and anything tricky or a 'confidence' matter, such as the annual Budget, could be got through with ad hoc deals, for example with Ulster Unionists or some of the MPs of other parties. Let's not forget the SNP are running Scotland on a minority basis and are making it work.

One other thing...

This election could produce a perverse result - for example, Labour could come third in the popular vote but be the largest party in terms of MPs and remain in government. At what stage will this be unacceptable to the public and there be a massive clamour for electoral reform? If there is such a result I think this is a real possiblity; remember the Westminster elections are now unusual in that they are 'First Past the Post' - Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the London Assembly aren't, and great swathes of the UK are used to a more PR based system.

Website of the week

Sometimes you just need a little explanation to understand the USA - thankfully here is a helpful map.

Full of Glee

I've already admitted that Glee is one of my guilty secrets - tonight's episode was a 'Madonna' special, complete with an excellent Vogue remake.

Compare the original with the Glee homage - just can't imagine a UK show doing something like this so well.

Putting out the welcome mat?

Yesterday's trip got me thinking. At Kew there were various tourists - mainly French and Japanese along with a few Americans. I couldn't help wondering how many intended on being there, and how many have perhaps had an enforced enlongated stay due to the Icelandic ash?

We've seen lots on the news about Brits being caught out and having to stay longer overseas, but very little about those who've had to stay here in the UK for longer than they thought.

I hope we were accommodating and welcoming to them - how guests/visitors are treated says a lot about us.

And not a Titchmarsh in sight...

Despite having lived in London for several years I have never been to Kew Gardens. This is perhaps even more shameful as for the last few years I've lived fairly close. Anyway, today I corrected that - with lovely spring sunshine and the added bonus of no planes flying overheard.

I'm not really in to gardens; I find them slightly dull as one plant looks pretty similar to another to me. What can I say, I'm a city boy. But Kew was lovely - from the magnificent glass houses to the peaceful quieter parts, from the beautiful lawns to the tree top walk - a well worth trip.

Kew collects an interesting selection of visitors. From pensioners with their season tickets who like the cafes and restaurants, to slightly bemused overseas tourists; from school trips with bored teenagers, to SW London yummie mummies and/or their nannies with children in tow. Having a coffee I was near a particularly braying mum with her brood - talking inanities to friends, or on her mobile, she was wittering on about 'raising children is soooo different in Europe' and 'I didn't even record the leaders' debate but daren't tell my freinds. But I ensured I Skyplused Desperate Housewives'. I have to admit that she was such a stereotype I did look around for a film crew wondering if a spoof or a new sitcom was being recorded (or even a section for Outnumbered which has to be the most depressingly middle class and unfunny 'sitcom' since Terry & June - no doubt that will annoy some...).

Stereotypical mums aside - a lovely few hours in an oasis in SW London.

Three Election Observations

As someone interested in politics, who has studied it, and who somehow has ended up working in the Westminster Village, a few observations based on gut feelings and random thoughts.

1. 'It's the economy stupid'
The overwhelming factor in voter behaviour is who people think will make them better off. It's not as simple as straight cash and tax policy, but includes things like education, health and pensions - so it's a bit more nuanced than people think. However, all depend on the underlying economy and whilst I doubt many people appreciate just how dicey the economy is at the macro level, it will still be the largest deciding voting factor. The reason there is no clear party in the lead is that all have pretty similar economic policies - the differences are minor - hence voter uncertainty.

2. It's not the 'first internet election'
Labour may have lost one PPC due to poor tweeting, but the internet won't be a massive factor in this election. Compared to the US Presidential election the parties are raising very little cash via the internet and most of their publicity is still via the mainstream media and direct mail. One or two political blogs will be worth following - and may break a massive story - but it will largely still be a fairly traditional election campaign.

3. Opinion polls are interesting but ultimately useless
It's a cliche that the only poll that matters is the one on election day, but though opinion polls are mildly diverting, they don't actually tell us a huge amount. The following are some of the reasons;

• margin of error - this is usually +/- 2 or 3% - this can make quite a difference, esp. between an overall result and a hung parliament
• there are only a snapshot - it is how a person would vote at the time they asked the question. Polls, on the whole, don't measure depth or strength of support; ask the same person an hour later and the result could be different. A lot can change in a campaign - and voters are fickle
• the 'don't knows' - notice how most polls don't publish the percentage of 'don't knows'/'haven't decideds'? In the past I've been polled and you often don't get this as option. My hunch is that this election there are huge number who are don't knows - to be useful we need polls showing this
• won't vote - who know what the turnout will be, and more importantly how it will be distributed? This is as important as the 'don't knows'

Look at polls, but take the above in to account - polls are interested but are flawed.

Some predictions to follow...