All Hallows Eve

On the whole I'm fairly relaxed about Halloween. If people want to dress up as witches, skeletons or zombies then OK - I don't think it's going to lead down some slippery slope to worshipping Satan.

Similarly I don't think Harry Potter will lead to devil worship. I've never understood the inconsistency that Lord of Rings was 'OK' yet Harry Potter was 'evil' - this largely seemed to rely on the fact that Tolkien was a Catholic and ignored that sorcery and spells run deep through book series of books. However, 'Trick or Treat' really annoys me.

Two reasons - firstly, it's a dreadful import from the USA. Had any of us ever come across it until we watched ET? Let's stand against this cultural imperialism.

Secondly, it sends really confusing messages to children. On one extreme this week we have had the bizarre playground story in Watford - on the other, for one night a year we dress children up and send them off to ask strangers for sweets.

For either reason let's not encourage 'Trick or Treat'.

And the grumpy old man rant ends...

Lets play ball

Sunday I headed off to Wembley to the NFL game. Can't say it was as close as the two previous regular season games played in London - New England Patriots did a workmanlike job of defeating Tampa 35 -7. It's not that Tampa's defence were that bad - but their offense was very poor. They have yet to win this season, and if they carry on playing like they did on Sunday it'll be a long and win less regular season.

I've now been to Wembley 3 times to see football - once association and twice American - over the past few years. It really does disappoint as venue.

Sight lines and seats are great - I've sat in very different places and each has been fine. The problem is not really the arena, it's the whole experience. It's simply in the wrong place. Getting there is not simple and getting back is worse - despite improvements the transport links are still poor for such a venue. The location is wrong - there is nothing else to there apart from go to the stadium, unless you want to shop at nearby IKEA. The lack of bars, restaurants and just general space around the stadium adds to the chaos on leaving events; as there is no reason to stay there everyone heads to the tube.

Once inside it's not much better - you queue for everything for far too long. Food is expensive, poor and takes far too long to serve, and queuing for a programme takes too long - even when they are priced at £10 so the seller rarely has to make change. Wembley likes to boast it has loads of toilets - it may well do but you still have to queue too long. This Sunday it was the longest I've ever queued at an event for the loo - which suggests whilst they have a lot of loos, the loos to people ratio is inadequate.

Wembley cost a ridiculous amount of money and hosts numerous events each year - by now any teething troubles should have been sorted. I just expect better from our 'national stadium'.

Cardiff and the Millennium Stadium is just so much better - I fear for the 2012 Olympics.

Website of the week

Been a busy week so far and it's only Tuesday.

Still - this website might make you feel better...

Blogging will be back

To say that blogging in 2009 has been 'irregular' is an understatement. 'Twas never intended to be thus.

The past five or so months have been pretty 'full on' and various things have had to be put on hold - the blog was one.

Readers may not miss it - but I do!

Hopefully it'll be back soon.

Greenbelt - Day 2

Was circulating at an event earlier and started chatting to someone. Found out they came from Michigan, USA - which seemed a long way to come to Cheltenham for a festival.

Me, "So what brings you here?

Him, "I'm with him." He nods towards someone chatting away at the next table.

I look across and don't recognise anyone.

Me, "Whose he?

Him, "Rob Bell."

Oh dear, he's only one our main speakers... I look again.

Me, "Sorry, didn't recognise him. He looks different from his photo."

Him, "Yes, he's had a major haircut."

Me (relieved), "That explains it..."

Greenbelt 2009

Have arrived at Greenbelt.

The site is up.

People are arriving.

Let the gathering commence.

My career as a burglar...

Spent a fair chunk of the afternoon trying to break in to my garage.

Weather was nice so thought I'd go for a bike ride. Go down to my garage and I simply can't get the padlock to open... and of course any tools that would be helpful are in the garage... and why did I get a lock with 'extra security'??

So, after a bit of hitting it, and the odd naughty word, I trundle off to Wickes.

Have to say that I was a little nervous walking to the checkout wanting to pay solely for some boltcutters and a padlock. Felt if I was asked, there could be some awkward explaining to do...

Still, no awkward questions - either at the store or later whilst I wrestle the padlock with the boltcutters - and the garage was freed!

Don't feel a discreet life of crime is ahead of me.

Website of the week

There is the always excellent Graphjam - but then I came across this.
Simply superb.

hattip - dizzythinks.net

The Proms

The other day I was thinking that despite having lived in London for several years, there are numerous 'London' things I haven't done. For some bizarre reason going to the Proms sprung to mind, so I booked a ticket for the Friday I returned from Devon, regardless of the programme.

Well, it wasn't your 'typical' prom evening...

First up was a piece by Jonny Greenwood. Still best known as part of Radiohead he has also done some classical and film work - his soundtrack for There Will Be Blood won a Grammy. The piece was fine, very enjoyable, though I'm not sure how the orchestra felt as for long sections the strings either have to pluck their instruments or play them as though they were ukuleles - slightly ironic as the excellent Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain are playing the Proms next week.

Then there was Apollo by Stravinsky - fairly mainstream and most enjoyable.

After the interval was 'The Arches' from The Mask of Orpheus by Sir Harrison Birtwistle. The words interesting, challenging and innovative spring to mind. It came across to me as a strange mix of improvised jazz, bad experimental Anglican liturgy and the noise a group of toddlers make when they are let loose with the instruments from the toy box.

It was a little bit weird, a little bit mental, and I actually found it quite enjoyable! Not sure what the various tourists made of it - the Japanese and Korean students sat next to me, who seemed be in London to attend language school, looked a little bemused.

At least they stayed. On a Friday night I'd say the Royal Albert Hall was around half full and several left during the Birtwistle piece. As I said, not a 'typical' Prom!

Hartland

Last day of my (too) short stay in Devon and the weather is lovely. Head out to a part of north Devon I've not been to before - the Hartland area. It's a little off the beaten track - most people either shot straight past on the way to Bude or head to Clovelly - and this probably adds to its charm.

Down by Hartland Quay the shoreline is impressively rocky. Over the centuries this part of the north Devon coast has claimed numerous ships and it's easy to see why. The view across to Lundy is beautiful and clear.

After a little potter I head to Hartland Abbey. Apparently one of the last abbeys under Henry VIII, and then given to the keeper of his wines, it's been passed down through the generations and is still in private hands. Open to public at certain times it has that usual mix found in UK minor stately homes - feeling a little run down and needing some TLC in places, but still stunning with impressive architecture, furnishings and art work. From here I wander down to the coast to a quite and (fairly) secluded bay.

Recognise the house in the right hand photo? It was used in the recent BBC adaptation of Sense and Sensibility as the house the Dashwoods went to. As with many minor stately homes, those location fees probably come in handy!

The Coast and Moor

Weather a bit murky today. Well it's not so much raining with drizzle and grey skies as there is low cloud coming off the sea. Driving up over Exmoor reminded me of driving through Scotland in the autumn - though a little warmer.

Headed to Lynton and Lynmouth, two small towns linked by a Victorian Cliff Railway. Lynton sits on the top of the cliff, with Lynmouth the old small harbour town below.

I'm sure in their time they were once bustling little towns, after all a cliff railway was built to link the two, but now they sit on the remote Exmoor coast and are kept ticking over by the tourist trade. A short stroll along the coastal path is rewarded by the stunning Valley of the Rocks. Local claims that this part of North Devon is a 'little Switzerland' may be little optimistic - but it is beautiful and very like the north of Scotland.

Make my way back - via the coast, the moors and the cloud - to Barnstaple and then the evening is spent in a fantastic local pub in a small village on the edge of Exmoor. To say it's off the beaten track is to over state its transport links. It accepts only cash and cheques - a note on the door says 'we don't serve plastic food so we don't accept plastic money' - and it doesn't have a till, merely a drawer.

A great place with good food and great beer - I can't remember the last time I was asked 'do you want straight glass or a handle?' - and it is exactly as a local village pub should be!

The Tarka Trail

Weather has been a bit up and down - one day wonderful sunshine, the next full of grey skies and drizzle.

Make the most of today's weather and hire a bike to cycle some of the Tarka Trail, an old railway route in north Devon that is now a popular walk and cycleway.

I've done the southern section before - from Fremington Quay to Torrington - so this time I head north all the way past Barnstaple out to Crowe Point. Fine weather and a drink stop - purely for medicinal purposes naturally - make it a pleasant day, topped off with a lovely picnic lunch overlooking the Taw estuary.

Taking off my T shirt later I see that I have a pronounced 'cyclist's tan'!

Towards the South West

Heading down to glorious North Devon for a few days break and rather than sit in a traffic jam around Stonehenge, I took the opportunity to potter around Salisbury for a couple of hours.

Wandered around Old Sarum and then headed to the 'new' Cathedral - which has been there since about 1250. Like most cathedrals parts of it are behind scaffolding, but the interior is stunning. On the tour the guide said that the choir stalls used today are the same original ones from the 13th century. To think service have been conducted from the same seats for hundreds of years...

Around the cathedral is a lovely close and green space. The weather was beautiful and many were making the most of it, including a group of Morris Dancers. A 'typically English' scene in many respects - but I'm not sure that Morris Dancing should be encouraged!

On the way out of Salisbury I stopped at Old Wardour Castle. Going down various narrow lanes of rural Wiltshire you are rewarded with a stunning ruined castle. It's been used for various films - including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - and you can see why. A bonus was a falconry display being held on the day.

Overall a leisurely and fascinating day - so much better than being sat in a queue on the A303.

Website of the week

Okay, so I'll never make it into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame or the Baseball Hall of Fame - mainly because I'm not American and play neither sport.

I've even accepted that my call up to the England squad is perhaps unlikely and I won't make it into the Football Hall of Fame.

Still, there is hope!

Who knows, one day I could make it into the Accounting Hall of Fame.

Hattip to the Independent on Sunday.

Good and bad habits

Not sure whether blogging is a good or bad habit. If it's a good habit, it's one I'm not keeping; if it's a bad habit, it's one I can't quite kick. Which ever it is, it's not a particularly regular one of mine.

Been a strange week. The tone was set at a meeting on Monday...

The boss - "This letter you are sending out - it reads like a very bureaucratic letter."
Me - "That's because it is a bureaucratic letter."

It sort of fluctuated from there...

Website of the week

Well, you've always wanted to know how to dance properly...



And you know you'll be humming that tune for days...

Website of the week

Apparently there is a correct way to open a banana...

I don't like cricket... I love it

Having stopped off in Birmingham on my way from Southport to catch my niece in a dance recital, I head back to London on the M40 listening to Test Match Special on Radio 4.

Cricket isn't everyone's idea of an exciting and fascinating sport - especially not the Test match variety. But following the match as England held out for a draw was gripping radio - full of tension and beautifully commentated upon by the excellent TMS team.

I know it's weird that a sports match can last five days and end in a thrilling draw - but that's the beauty of cricket.

It may not be "the beautiful game" - but at times like this is comes pretty close.

A visit up north

Been a long and busy week which has been topped off with a visit to Southport, just north of Liverpool. Part of the family are just about the head off to New Zealand - part of me is very jealous - so there has been a gathering of friends and family to celebrate and wish them bon voyage.

I like Southport. Like many UK coastal resorts it's seen better times and some parts are looking a bit tired. But there is a lot of investment trying to reinvent the place (new hotels etc.), some wonderful buildings and architecture, and a beautiful coastline. I'd love to be there when the Open golf championship is being held at Royal Birkdale, I'd imagine the whole town takes on a completely different feel and the place must be buzzing.

A long way to shlep all the up the M6 for a celebration; but a good party, lovely to see people, and an enjoyable and worthwhile time.

Website of the week

This coming weekend I'll be in the north west at a family function - not a wedding nor funeral but a goodbye party as some of the wider family head out to New Zealand. Will be good fun to see everyone, though perhaps the last gathering of the clan - so happiness mixed with a tinge of sadness?

Anyway I wonder whether they will be any awkward family photos?