New years eve

I sit resplendent in my illness at the end of 2010 wondering what next year might bring. It would be entirely egotistical of me to try to write about the last 12 months but I'm sure I will over the next few hours. We have some friends coming around this evening to have a few drinks and games which I am looking forward to. However, as has become the tradition for me at this time of year I am looking towards the new year with anticipation. I have realised that since I have become embroiled in an artistic career that I have been by and large a far more optimistic person which is, I suppose, a good thing. I have an awful lot to get through over the next few weeks but I am looking forward to getting on with it. In other news, I have discovered and purchased a new app for the iPhone called nanostudio. It is basically a full functioning recording studio which I can carry with me everywhere. What this means is that I am of course toting with being musical again....a nation trembles in it's headphones! It will not be me mincing around on a stage trying to recapture my dubious youth however, but more recording of my own stuff with theatre in mind. I have already for example written a small incidental piece for the forthcoming premiers of my plays in January. It's only a minute long but I had immense fun writing it.... perhaps I ought to upload it here? Any road up as they say in places I have never visited, I shall leave it at that for the moment and start working on my review of last year from a personal perspective which will probably bore the life out of me and anyone who reads it.

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Christmas in Staffordshire

So here I am at the in laws. They've all gone to bed and I am listening to what should be England winning the ashes on a dodgy stream on mobile web. We are off to see Peter Pan tomorrow at the new vic in Stoke on Trent which is a lovely theatre. I read my friend mr pops blog earlier and it made me a little sad. It must be a difficult situation and I sympathise. I have a feeling that my relationship withy aunt may well end up in a similar situation but we shall see. We have invited some nice people for new years eve as we usually have a quiet one and felt like doing something a little different this year. I haven't had a good party for a while so I look forward to this. The last week has been really nice to switch off to a certain extent but I am always aware of the impending workload, so shall make the most of the next few days. I also have lines to learn for next Thursday so I need to pull my finger out! Off to Market Drayton to shop in the morning.

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Fury at axing of children's free books

More cultural rape from this awful government...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/dec/26/booktrust-funding-cut-pullman-motion

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Arts Cuts - The Facts - Care of Equity

PUBLIC SPENDING CUTS: The key facts on arts cuts

Nationally

• The Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review has proposed cuts of 15% across four years to front line arts organisations and a cut of nearly 30% for Arts Council England.

• The DCMS budget and staff to be cut by 50%

• Arts Council England has announced that all Regularly Funded Organisations will have their funding cut by 6.9% in 2011/12. 100 organisations will lose their ACE funding as a result of the newly adopted funding process.

Locally

• Regional theatres, arts organisations and community projects across the UK’s nations and regions are also very concerned that they will lose support from local councils, which are facing cuts of 7.1% each year for the next four years due to the CSR.

Some have already announced dramatic cuts to their arts budgets:

• Cumbria faces £130,000 cut in arts support

• Darlington Council to cut £1.7m

• Somerset has cut its entire £159,000 budget

• Manchester to review its £38m fund for culture

• The arts budget is usually a comparatively small amount of local government expenditure yet the benefits it brings to people’s lives are immense. Investment in cultural activities can drive regeneration, community cohesion, tourism revenues and employment.

• NALGAO (the body representing local government arts officers) estimates that for every £1 being spent on arts services; a return of £1.67 is realised in additional funding from other organisations and services.

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Another weekend over

So here we are on the last working week of the year as far as sessions are concerned.  I have been productive today, mainly I think due to the fact that we had a restful weekend with family.  Went out in the fresh air and got our boots muddy and spent time with Georgia and Dan which we don't get to do nearly enough.  We've had a stressful end to the year, and there is no doubt that the first half of next year will be the same at least, but I am beginning to realise what it takes to stay sane and to keep on top of things, and I will continue to keep at it.

I have been reading some of Chekhov's short plays.  They filmed some of them on Sky Arts recently, and I was so taken with them I bought the book, and I have rarely been so taken with some plays.  They are exquisite and funny and well obserbed, and would be a dream to direct, and appear in.  Watch this space :-)

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Panic on the Streets of London...

So the vote was passed, the streets were full of anger and the Daily Mail got their photo to become outraged to. All I keep reading is that we have lost the argument if we resort to violence.  The irony of this is delicious.  The Tory press moan about violence towards monuments that are there as a result of violence.  Nothing of course about the Police charging children with horses, or the more than 100 protesters hospitalised, or the violence by the Police towards a protester in a wheelchair.  Why were the horses brought in?  It was because the protesters were throwing things like snooker balls apparently, but where is the logic in that?  You kettle groups of protesters, they get angry, they throw things, and then you charge at them with horses.  This is supposed to be a calming measure!!!  Unbelievable rank hypocrisy.  Still the Mail complain about cruelty to Horses, whilst celebrating hunting and field sports in general.  My MP was, as usual, on the money of course.  Not a word about the issues, she was only concerned about the horses, that the Police CHOSE to employ.  Don't worry about the students being beaten unconscious of course.  Then we have the idiot decision to parade Charles and Camilla past the protests, and the feigned shock that they threw some stuff at them.  There is a student in hospital at the moment undergoing an operation to stop bleeding on the brain, but the pot of paint on a Rolls Royce is more important of course.  I am sick to death of hearing that violence never works when my taxes are going to fund illegal wars and I am supposed to pay again for my children's education.  Violence works when it suits the government and media, and I am afraid to admit, I genuinely believe it might have to continue in this case.

The Education cuts are proportionately bigger than virtually every other cut, they were a choice, and an ideological one at that.  If we continue to be lied to, ignored, kettled, attacked, abused and pilloried, then violence is inevitable, and will soon become absolutely necessary.

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Memory Lane

I took a wander through some streets that I have not stepped on for many years yesterday, and spent the time since then in a kind of melancholic haze of ghostly reminiscence.  I was "brought up" in Borehamwood, living there from the age of three up until I was a grown up (Nearly).  My memory for events and times is not great, but I have always been staggered to find how quickly things can reappear from the briefest of stimulants.  A road sign, a smell, or a line from a  song, and I am there.  Just walking along a road that, to be honest, really doesn't have that many significant memories attached to it, was really quite staggering.  I took the opportunity to wander off the beaten track a little and pop along to my old watering hole to peer through the window, and whilst it has changed a lot, the place still looks remarkably as it did in many ways.  My eventual destination, my Aunts house, was also filled with memories.  The place is not one I associate with my time there, but the ornaments and bric-a-brac certainly are.  Cheap, tacky things that I spent hours of my life with are all there on display.  It is like a mini museum of my childhood memories, but one only I would be interested in seeing really.  Perhaps it was the fact that I do not visit very often that brought it all home to me, but I am finding life a little difficult to concentrate on today.

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Onwards

So the assignments are finished and handed in, and now I can start looking forward to a break at Christmas...well...I SAY break...What I mean is a couple of weeks to plan next year really.  T'will be nice to have some time with the family though, that small unit of people that I love with all my heart and seem to be co-existing at a distance at the moment.  I hope we can spend a bit of quality time together.  Today, I will be chasing my tail around...Firstly, I am off to the Wood for the first time in a long time.  I will be terrorising the roads after that, and then off to pick up eldest.  I was hoping to attend an Equity meeting tonight, but it would seem that is not going to happen...Oh well.

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1 down 1 to go

Spent all day on an assignment for Uni, and have another one to finish off tomorrow.  I castigated myself for doing this in the past, but at least this time, most of my background prep was done and it was just a case of sticking to my plan and writing up my ideas.  It's been a mad couple of months, and I am pleased that I am even in a position to be sending any assignments off to be honest.  I just hope that I can finish off the next one a bit quicker so that I can reference and check them properly.  I also hope that they are any bloody good.

Not enjoyed today for a number of reasons, and am increasingly feeling like I am swimming not only against my tide, but others too.

I hope tomorrow is better....I need it to be.

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Right....Everyone switch off

I am trying something new today.  I am banning the internet.  Yes from everyone.  Between the hours of Nine and five, none of you are to use it please.  I have lots to do, and I do not want to be distracted by your tweets/Status updates or emails thank you very much.  I will be finishing some Uni work today, and hoping that I can do so without too many distractions (Other than my driving lesson).  I was relieved that the snow held off over night to any great extent, and that as a result I have a quiet house to help me focus.  I will be keeping a close eye on the weather though to ensure I do not get surprised by any blizzards etc.

I think I moaned about the snow obsession last year, in fact I know I did.  This year, the world of Facebook is alight with kids expecting a "Snow Day" as if it is some sort of right.  I hope that the head teachers who close at the drop of a hat are happy about this.  I know of at least two in the local vicinity.  Our roads seem to have been gritted quite well, which is good, but I suspect that as the winter goes on, that the cuts might have an effect on the grit supplies....you heard it here first remember.

There is another Student protest planned for today, and I hope it has the same effect as the previous ones.  They have kept the subject at the top of the agenda and it needs to be kept there if at all possible.  I do not advocate violence, but the fact remains, that of the protests had been carried out without incident, they would not be in the news to any great extent.  It is very rare that a "peaceful" either makes the headlines, or achieves very much.  The Poll Tax protests are a case in point in my opinion.  Whilst the Daily Mail readers amongst us will moan about the naughty protesters, they are of course quite happy that the tax was finally abolished, in no small part due to the wave of protests.

I have been invited to the Equity Directors committee meeting at the Globe Theatre next week, which is rather exciting.  I shall definitely go, as I am fascinated to see what plans are afoot to protest against the outrageous cuts to the arts.

Anyway.

I shall be off to the kettle (No, not that kind) to top up the caffeine supplies, and then away to finish my work.  I will be back later.

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A little late

I've tried several times to write about the student protests of the last couple of weeks, but really, this sums it up very nicely I think

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/laurie-penny/2010/11/children-police-kettle-protest

I hope they keep the momentum going and continue to have right on their side

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Updates

I have been an avid reader of the comedian Richard Herring's blog for some time now.  He started it 8 years ago, and endeavoured to write something every day in order to have a record of his "doings", but also to assist him in developing a writing style.  He was not even doing stand up comedy at the time he started his blog, but his career has taken off somewhat since then, and I am really pleased for him.  He does, to be honest, have a decent smattering of knob jokes and suchlike, but the basis of all of his humour is, I believe, intelligence.  It was his blog that inspired me to attempt to write every day this year, and of course I failed completely to do it, but I still feel quite happy that my output has been as much as it has.  I too started out with the intention of helping my writing style, and I genuinely think it has helped.  I have after all, been successfully published twice this year and for that I am justly proud.  Now we are fast approaching December, thoughts turn to what this year has brought, and what next year might promise, and I think i will once again try to write every day, and see what it brings me.  I have always harboured some writing ambitions, really, I have.  Since as early as I can remember, I liked the idea of the solitary writer, at home, with only his imagination and a pen and paper as being quite the most distinguished and attractive of lifestyles.  Of course, back then, I didn't once consider that I might have children, and a business, and responsibilities beyond being anything other than really cool.  I also didn't countenance the possibility of something called the internet, that would provide such a dramatic source of entertainment, wonder and time wasting either.  But it has helped me as much as hindered me I feel.  I shall endeavour, once again, to write a list of resolutions for the year, and again, I shall bravely attempt to be successful in them all.  One of them, will undoubtedly involve keeping on top of my degree with a little more efficiency.  I have been a LOT better than in previous years, but I still have two assignments to be in for Wednesday, and still I sit here doing other things.  Perhaps I am a person who needs a deadline to thrive?  Or perhaps that is complete nonsense, and I actually just need to knuckle down and stop trying to glamorise my prevarication?  Either way, I am pretty much certain that I would like to continue studying once the degree is complete, and perhaps do a masters or become a trained LAMDA teacher?  Who knows?  I shall have to see how the next couple of years progress.

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Harry Potter and the Franchise of inevitable doom

As you may be able to tell from the subtle title, I didn't really enjoy the film.  In fact, the whole experience of cinema really does leave me cold in many ways.  Before I mention the actual film, I want to moan about the audience, who seem to think that it is perfectly reasonable to pass comment all the way through.  Why they insist on buying bucket sized cups of drink, only to them have to disturb everyone throughout the film to visit the toilet.  Why cant they wait?  It's not as if we are talking about a film of Mahabatara style proportions here...it's a couple of hours, have some manners and consideration for others!  I detest the ridiculous overpricing for sweets and drinks in the cinema. If you are taking a child, then of course, they will want some kind of treat, but be prepared to spend more on this than the actual ticket.  It is a disgrace, and I shall endeavour to ensure that I take my own refreshments from now on in spite of their ridiculous and non legal insistence that I cannot.  Anyway...on to the main feature....Well....I say the main feature, but of course there are about half an hours worth of trailers to go through first.

The fil itself, was I suppose, fairly harmless.  A rudimentary plot, which, as I have not read this book, I assume keeps fairly close to the book as the others have.  The performances of the main characters are adequate at best, and downright awful at worst.  They could have easily removed 20 minutes from the running time of the film had they removed all scenes of the actors gazing into the middle distance in an effort to instil some sense of deep and heavy drama.  The effects were ok, and the overall atmosphere of the film was very well created I felt, with excellent cinematography and superb music that for once, did not detract from the film.  It ended on a cliffhanger of sorts, but we knew that would happen didn't we?  Oh, and I didn't care that Dobby died.

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Christmas

Yes, yes...I know...I always moan about it every year, but it IS getting earlier.  I even bought advent calendars yesterday!  I shall endeavour not to moan about it again till next year, but really!  I saw a facebook group that pronounced that it was officially Christmas because the Coca Cola advert with the lorries was on TV already...I shall refrain from any comment other than Grrrrrr.

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Winter is nigh

Well dear reader, it has been a while...too long in fact...how the devil are you?  I have, of course, been far too busy.  Having just got over a strange, flu-type bug, I was struck down with only my second ever migraine yesterday morning, which completely wiped me out for the day.  The session I ran in the evening was quite surreal in that it felt like an out of body experience.  I think I have been overdoing it to an extent, so have decided on some early nights and a return to a more healthy regime.  I spent Sunday morning with two cast members from a West End show running a workshop.  What a pleasure it was to work with two professional people who were so pleasant and talented.  I came home feeling rather inspired by it all, only to find that some amateur goings on were going to spoil the day.  I have maintained a silence on the issue over the years, and will continue to do so as it is a bit vulgar to write about such things online, but needless to say, we have made a decision that has caused a little upset, which is always a shame.  I have tried very hard not to let the issue cloud my mood which is variable to say the least.  I move on to a driving lesson later on today, followed by a trip to see the latest Harry Potter film with youngest.  I struggle a bit with the Harry Potter films.  I'm sure they are all good, and aimed at an audience that cannot count me in it's number, but I just think they are so dull.  The books weren't dull, well, not overly anyway.  I think the films just became a bit lazy.  I have no problem as such with big effects and drama in a film, that is after all what gets the bums on seats, but they just seem so calculated.  Anyway, it will also be a slightly interesting experience for me, in that I haven't read the last book yet, so I will be seeing parts of the plot revealed on the screen for the first time.  I promised myself when I started my degree, that I was going to avoid frivolities such as reading for fun, and Harry Potter was the first casualty.  Not that I have been particularly bereft over this.  I found the last one I read to be a little turgid, and I found myself screaming for something unusual and unpredictable to happen...Maybe it does in the last book?  Maybe Harry and Ron admit their undying love for each other and elope to Croydon?  I doubt it.  So I shall report back with a fervour and passion you could only dream of.

I couldn't of course, let this blog update pass without mention of Spurs, and their fantastic win over Arsenal at the weekend.  How fantastically exciting it was.  45 minutes of gloom ending in thrills spills and passion...I hope Harry Potter can boast the same.

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X-Factor

As recently posted, I decided I would try to watch the X-Factor.  I could write for hours as to why I object to this programme, and what it has meant to the music industry.  I will refrain though, and concentrate on the actual programme.

A haven of auto-tune, and drowning in reverb, it is very hard to write an objective opinion of the voices in the show.  They are so heavily over produced and devoid of any individuality, I found the whole experience frustrating.  The format is an infuriating faux personality contest between four people devoid of any real performing ability themselves, and fronted by a man who is surely the dullest performer on UK television.  I realise that we are never going to see the kind of performer that I prefer, and we will never perhaps get a truly individual artist from the programme, but it would seem to me that the music would seem to be the least important part of the programme.  We are expected to be entertained by the so called tension between Cowell and Cole or Minogue or Walsh, and frankly, there is no tension.  It is a truly awful piece of television.  I will persever, and watch over the next couplf of weeks if I can bear it, but I truly feel like I need a wash after watching it.

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Welcome Back

How lovely to see Mr Pops blogging again.  I am very much looking forward to more :-)

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Thank you for the....

I've been experimenting with music and mood changes in my professional capacity quite a lot lately.  The choice of music within a production can be quite significant in terms of the overall mood of the scene, which is pretty obvious.  However, the mood can change dramatically with the choice of music within a genre for example...I have been looking for some fairly depressing, maudlin music for something, and eventually found Ghosts1 by Nine Inch Nails, and slow and frankly depressing piece.  However, I have used a different piece of depressing music, and the whole dynamic of the scene has now changed.  This fascinates me, and even more so in children.  Youngest had to write some paragraphs on five pieces of instrumental music at the weekend....I chose 5 quite diverse pieces, and her descriptions were delicious :-)   I am now writing under the influence as well...If I want to get in the mood for something I find music is very powerful...I am going to try and write under some different influences in the next few weeks and see what happens.

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Culture and how not to do it

I work with children and young adults, and it is a source of huge satisfaction and enjoyment.  I am however, wary of the march of time, and the need to keep my relationship with the people I work with both relevant and appropriate.  I have noticed that as I passed 40 that things started to change.  I no longer knew, or cared, who was at number one.  Any brief flirtation with a soap opera was replaced with a real opera.  Books became beautiful again, and music....well music was always there, but the breadth of what I listened to became huge.  Whilst all this was happening I was also working with kids for the first time, and if I do say so myself, I thought I was pretty good at it.  Something is nagging away at me though.  Simon Cowell.  What? I hear you say....Simon bloody Cowell!  Well it's not so much him as such.  It's just that I have noticed that conversations are going on around me, and I cannot have an opinion.  I have simply never watched an episode of the X Factor.  I cannot help it, but I find shows of this kind to be dreadfully tedious.  The formulaic panel with their faux arguments, and even more faux (If that is a phrase, and if it is not it still works for me) facial features.  The apparent lack of anything approaching originality, and the desperate panic should anyone dare to look at all human.  The patronising way that the contestants are dealt with and pushed into seeming mental illness.  The constant reminder that there is no substance, and only surface.  I hate it! I loathe it and I detest its very existence....but here is the nub of the problem; I feel I ought to watch it.  I feel that if I am at least aware of some of the acts, that I might continue to appear slightly relevant to the people on whom I rely for a living.  It is a dreadful quandary, and I know not what to do...perhaps just one episode will be enough to put me off for life?

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Mac

For anyone that reads this old junk at all, you may remember that I took a small leap into the world of the Apple Mac a while back.  To be honest,it has not been an entirely successful foray to date, mainly due to time constraints.  However, I recently inherited yet another Mac, so I now have three!  This one is going to be my "Writing Mac".  It will have only the basics, and I will try to ban myself from using anything other than Google for research, and Scrivener to write with.  Scrivener is a rather splendid software package that makes writing easier and some might even say pleasurable.  It is Mac only at the moment, but will be available in January on the PC I believe, and for anyone who writes, I would heartily recommend it to them.  The newest Mac is only an old Power Mac G4, but it is such a nice machine, and I am really looking forward to using it in anger as it were.  I am forcing myself over the next week to use it for ALL writing.  When I say writing, I mean my blogs and websites, my plays etc and my assignments.  I am very much looking forward to getting a little prolific.  There is also a chance that I may be acquiring a Macbook, which would be rather exciting too :-)

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November

So a mad busy October comes to an end, and I leap exhaustedly into November, with many deadlines approaching and much to do.  As usual, I have slipped on many of my intentions during this year, and I suppose that was inevitable really.  However, I have achieved much, and feel quite pleased with myself.  Two plays have been written and published, the business continues to grow, and we have moved house.  I still have much to finish though...I am a third of the way though the latest play, and have a few more ideas, and I am also toying with the idea of a novel, though the idea of the NANOWRIMO project might be a little too much for me.  I have two assignments to finish before the end of the month, and some workshops to write.  My Drama Games book is still bubbling under as well.  In terms of drama, I am currently musing on a new project for next year which would take us into uncharted territory, but learning my lessons from the past I will not make an announcement just yet, in case it looks like a failure :-)

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Classical Music

This particular form of music was always a bit of a mystery to me.  As a child, my wonderful infant school teacher Mrs Cooper always tried to open our ears to many forms of music, and as a result, I started learning the guitar, attended folk festivals and, perhaps most importantly, attended a classical concert.  It was, rather predictably, the 1812 overture, complete with small cannons and smoke!  It left quite an impression on our little band of 7 and 8 year olds, and even now when I hear that particular piece, I feel like a kid again.  Of course, the ravages of adolescence and inverse snobbery denied me too much more exposure to classical music, save the obligatory Holst Planet Suite album, purchased from the bargain bin.  I discovered a love for Rock, Punk, alternative and Indie, and lost myself in that for many years.  I even remember arguing against the merits of classical music with a work friend of mine during the 1980s, basically saying that classical music could not operate on an emotional level without poetry (Lyrics).  Obviously this was nonsense, and I realise this now.  I really happened upon classical again over the last 10 years.  During a particularly stressful time in an office environment, I tried listening to what was horrifically referred to as "Chill Out" music.  Not the kind of godawful Pan Pipe music that you can buy in Garden centres, but more the ambient works of people like the Orb and Brian Eno et al.  It certainly helped, and I started revisiting Classical music through a touch of Mozart.  The Internet has proved to be the real catalyst for me, giving me access to the kind of variety that previously you could only dream of.  I then made a very good friend, who also had a love for Classical music, and he was able to recommend and advise.  Within a matter of months, I found myself in the fortunate position of being able to work with a professional orchestra on several projects.  How fantastic an opportunity.  Since then, I have really not looked back.  Recently, I have also been using more music in my theatrical ventures, and realised the power and beauty all over again.  The way a simple piano line can suggest so much more than a page of dialogue is fascinating to me.  So I found myself loving so much of what I heard, but not really having the time to start from scratch and learn all over again.  Then I discovered two resources, which have transformed the way I listen to music.  Spotify, the online music streaming service, and a website called Classical.net, which has what it describes as a "Basic repertoire".  I have spent a few hours already compiling playlists based on their suggestions to get you started.  I am still compiling the "Romantic - Basic Repetoire Playlist", but the "Classical - Basic Repertoire" is pretty much finished, and I have managed to find roughly 95% of what is in their suggested list.  It has 830 tracks and takes three days to listen to!  I have discovered so much already, and found some beautiful music.  I am up to C on the Romantic list, and already I have over 700 track that would take 2 days to listen to!  Today, I have already realised a love for Brahms..perhaps someone who I had heard before but just didn't know it.  It would be delightful to be able to hear some music and be able to place it, but for now, I am settling for simply falling in love with it, and suffering from mild regret in not being able to do this when I was younger.

For any of my readers with a fleeting interest...here are the lists so far.  

Classical.net Basic repetoire Classical

Classical.net Basic Repetoire Romantic

I still have to finish Romantic, and then move onto;

Medieval Repertoire

Renaissance Repertoire

Baroque Repertoire

20th-Century Repertoire

Modern Repertoire

I have no idea how long this will take me to either compile, or to listen to, but it is such a worthwhile exercise for me.  The thing that makes me most happy, is that the website suggests these lists as only a starting point!  

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LIKE

I am not one of the pedants from the "Must speak the Queens English or you are guilty of cultural rape" brigade.  I realise that language is constantly changing and evolving, and for this, we must be grateful.  In many ways, Shakespeare would be a far less attractive prospect to us now had language not evolved and changed since his day.  However, I feel I must have a moan and a gripe about one particular thing that I do not like.  That was it in fact; "Like".  It has become the equivalent of "Umm". or "Err" or just a pause.  "I was, like, walking down the street, and like, this woman came up to me and she was like...."       .AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH.  My children use it, in fact everyone under the age of 18 seems to use it, and I fear for the appalling lack of vocal dexterity of anyone unable to complete a sentence without using it.  I have started dreaming up all sorts of punishments for the use of it.  I wonder if, I'm like, alone, like?

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iPhone app

I use Posterous as my basic blogging platform, and it then automatically updates my Wordpress blog at mr-plug. co.uk from there. Posterous has now released a fully functioning iPhone app that I am now trying for the first time. So far so good but it doesn't seem to have the landscape function so typing is a little taxing. This us the reason I will not use the celtx app as I cannot imagine writing anything of any length on an iPhone. Perhaps I will review this as I go along?

I have included a photo of my disgusting desk just to see if the app is any good

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Broom, Broom and thrice broom

Bit of an odd day today.  I struggled to wake up in any way shape or form, and as a result, achieved next to nothing all morning.  I find myself having days like this from time to time, but usually manage to snap out of it these days.  Today was slightly unusual however, in that I needed to be at my most alert.  I did something today that I have not done for about 27 years.  I had a driving lesson.  Finally, after all this time, I managed to pluck up the courage and the money to do it.  Most of the morning was spent trying to wipe the experience of last time out of my mind, although it was so long ago that I feel sure that I remember a man with a little red flag wandering along in front of my the last time I took my test.  I have to report dear reader, that it all went rather swimmingly, and that as a result, I am rather looking forward to next week. I hope to be on the road very soon!

This afternoon, we received word that a very close relative, and perhaps most importantly, a dear, dear friend, had received encouraging news from a publisher with regard to her book.  This is SO well deserved, and I am keeping everything crossed for her!

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Another Letter to Mrs Dorries

I have tried to contact my MP on a few occasions recently, and received no response or acknowledgement other than an automated email. I have today posted and emailed this letter to her, and I hope that I might receive a response this time

"Dear Mrs Dorries

Please forgive the long letter, but after many years of being your constituent, I have a number of issues I would like to raise with you.

Expenses.

Your thoughts and views on this subject were widely reported, and your blog made your views very clear, however, as one of your constituents, I would like you to clear up the following;

On your blog of 21st May 2009 http://blog.dorries.org/arc-2009_May.aspx You state the following;

“I’ve finished going through all my receipts and thought I had better make some things crystal clear:

I do NOT own a home in South Africa.

I do NOT own a home from which I receive a rental income.”

Yet the register of members interests published on 6th May 2009 states this as your entry;

“DORRIES, Nadine (Mid Bedfordshire)

8. Land and Property

House in Gloucestershire, from which rental income is received.

Holiday home in South Africa.”

I have written previously, and I am yet to receive a reply on this matter. I am concerned that this ambiguity might lead people to have the wrong idea about you.

Your Blog & Twitter

You have recently decided that Twitter is a waste of time, and you have criticsed those that use it heavily. This is fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion, however, I am sure you will acknowledge that you used it to great effect during the election campaign to smear your opponents. I was wondering when it became a waste of time to use it? Was it at the exact moment you got elected?

I read your blog regularly to keep updated on all the work you do in your constituency. At times I commented on it, not always in a positive way, but always in a polite way. Now it seems that you have removed any form of comment on the blog, which really is a shame as it was good to share our opinions with you openly and honestly? What did you remove this facility? Was it because of one or two troublesome people, and would it not have been worth blocking them?

You also blocked me on Twitter for asking the question about your expenses above! It does begin to look like you want to spend time in office making pronouncements, not entering into debate, which I think is a shame.

You recent diatribe against one of your constituents I am afraid does you little credit. As a taxpayer, I have become increasingly concerned with the money that is being wasted by MPs. I know that you believe the campaign on expenses to have been cruel and unjustifiable, but we want openness and honesty, not hysterical mentions of suicide to try to stop people from looking. I realise that your salary is not the biggest in the world, but I would respectfully suggest that beecoming embroiled in a personal campaign about one of your constituents is NOT the best way to spend tax payers money, surely your time could be usefully employed elsewhere? There are also some worrying comments you make abou the hustings meeting in Flitwick that I will cover below. Whatever your views of Ms Cullen, I would again, respectfully suggest that if you spent the amount of time on every one of your constituents in a campaign of vindictive accusation and bile on more constructive things, you may well avoid the amount of negative publicity that you have been receiving. Your outbust has led to personal information being published about Ms Cullen on a well know political blog. I want my MP to be a voice of positivity, not a voice that belongs in the dark ages of politics. Your comments about the Labout candidate’s service record, and the Liberal Democrat’s “Handcuffs” were childish to say the least, and are exactly the kind of smear that you have been so vocal in crtiticising.

I sent you an email last week about you blog. I was disgusted to see that you had referred to a website as containing Porn and then provided a link to it on your website! This was so deeply irresponsible from a member of Parliament. My eleven year old daughter was looking at your blog. As I said on my email, I only wish that you had shown the same level of responsibility to children that I did in supervising her online time. In the spirit of sense and decency, I have asked her to check with me before visiting your website again. Yet you then spend time in the local paper criticising others for doing so! I would ove to hear your view on this, so that I may perhaps see this as something other than base hypocrisy. Why not acknowledge publically that you made a mistake rather than pointing the finger at other people? What other people spend their time writing is none of your, or my business. In your case, it IS my business, as my taxes are paying for you to do it. Perhaps you only edited your blog as the complaint I sent was copied into David Cameron’s office?

The Flitwick Hustings

I attended this meeting, and I cannot believe that you are still bringing it up, and still doing so inaccuratley. Ms Cullen did not, at any point “storm” anywhere, or “Pace up and down”. She did not raise her voice any louder than anyone else when you left the meeting early. Why do you persist in stating these things as fact? I met Ms Cullen for the first time that night, and have not met her since by the way, and I am not a Labour party supporter either. You are careful not to mention that you only told us that you had to leave at 8.45 after you had the spat with the man and the camera, and in fact left at 8.30, only to stand outside chatting and smoking for 15 minutes before you left. The reason people were shouting was that we wanted to hear your opinion and perspective. I was happily able to question the Labour and Liberal candidates that evening, but the only impression I got from you was that of a candidate that treated her constituents with disdain and contempt. You told the whole meeting that you were going to another really important meeting. It must have beeen extremely important to take precedent over the hustings of the general election, and a chance for people to hear your voice days before they vote. It must also have bene extremely brief, as you were on Twitter within an hour of leaving the Flitwick Hustings. This is exactly the kind of behaviour that creates the impression of an MP so safe and secure in her seat, that she does not really care about the thoughts of her constituents.

Mrs Dorries, I find your style of politics to be stuck in the dark ages. You won the election with an increased majority, but this does not give you carte blanche to behave in the way you have. From your ridiculous publicity stunts (High heels, Reality TV shows, ignorant pronouncements on abortion), through to your insulting and personal comments, for example referring to a colleague as Dr Death. You personal campaign against a constituent is quite frankly a disgrace, and I would seriously question this behaviour if it came from a ten year old, let alone a grown woman in her 50’s who is paid by the taxpayer. You have done everything you can to actively discourage open, honest and grown up debate, and if you are questioned on this, you seem to resort to personal attacks. Let’s have some honesty, decency and integrity from you rather than the half truths, insults and downright lies.

Yours sincerely

Keith Badham

p.s I am sending this via email as well as post in an effort to ensure I receive a response this time."

I shall of course update the blog with any response

The Globe

Back from another day in London.  We went pretty much straight after the session this morning, and I found myself as a groundling at the Globe for the first time.  What a fantastic experience it was.  Myself and Eldest saw Henry IV Part one, and the three hours on our feet were worth every minute and every penny.  The play was full of commanding performances, brilliantly timed comedy and just down and out thrilling theatre.  It was the final performance, and I felt privileged to have been able to witness it.  I started the day feeling tired, irritable and ill, and finished it in awe of what one can do in a theatre, and feeling lucky that I have even the vaguest of connections with this wonderful industry.

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Dorries Snides again

MP would 'rather die' than form electoral pact: ePolitix.com

Well far be it from me to discourage the woman from whatever course she deems necessary.

 Yet again we see our MP in the course of her job, insulting and persecuting rather than doing anything constructive or worthwhile. Where is the discussion on policy? Where are the suggestions on how to improve anything? Where are the New Politics? Her Japanese prisoner of war comment is truly repugnant, and I have to say, nonsensical. It was not, after all, the prisoners of war who thought the war was still continuing, but the soldiers who were not in captivity. So we get deep insensitivity AND crass stupidity all in one sentence. Why is this woman allowed to continue by her party? She must surely be a liability?

A Bit of an arty Catch Up

It has been a while dear reader since I regaled you with tales of my recent visits out to various Arty Farty type events, of which there have been a fair few lately...So I will try to summarise...

The Saatchi Gallery - The simplest way I can describe this is a large building full of hang ups and hopes loosely based in the wonderful world of contemporary arts, which is neither a short or particularly well constructed sentence.  It was, I have to be honest, a rather cold and lifeless experience for me, and though there was some work in there that I really enjoyed, I felt that the space and its atmosphere were a bit stiffling.  I suppose when you have been to the Galleries in Paris recently, you will always find anything else slightly less inspiring...  

Jim Bob - Was, and occasionally remains, as the lead singer of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine - A solo gig at my old haunt; The Bull and Gate in Kentish Town, and a fine evening was had by all...Support act Tim Ten Yen was a revelation to myself and Mrs Plug, and his album has had quite an effect on us.  Mr Bob was excellent, and warm and entertaining, and I was relieved that someone who I had held in such high regard turned out to be a genuinely nice bloke.

The Tate Modern - More Modern Art madness, but as it is in such a special place, it works better than The Saatchi...Fell in lots of love with Cy Twombly, who really does lots of scribbling, and the old 6th form me would probably be sneering at the middle aged attractive me for saying it...

Re-Orientations - The Soho Theatre - Amazing Play...just beautifully staged, and wonderfully acted.  I can not praise it enough

Coming soon.....

Henry iv part one at the Globe :-)

Blasted  - Sarah Kane at The Lyric

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Professional Satisfaction

Received my Union membership today, which when I consider where I was five years ago makes me rather proud.  I also have received an approach from an educational establishment to help with a production, which I cannot begin to explain in terms of my happiness.  When I set out on this particular path five years ago, I didn't really believe deep down that I would really make a go of it.  After a particularly difficult day yesterday, I found that these two bits of news provided a very welcome relief...

I made the decision a few weeks back to seperate my political rantings into a different blog.  I understand that those kinds of posts can attract a bit of attention and as a result, can have a negative effect on some people close to me...so the Political stuff can be found over at http://mrplugsrantings.blogspot.com/.....You will see that today, I have continued with a theme so close to my heart...My MP

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Awake too late

SO after a busy week I fond myself falling asleep for most of the evening in front of the tv and then feeling wide awake when I should be in bed Grrrrr.  I think I need to try and get some sort of sleep pattern sorted out...anyway...

First set of full rehearsals with my Friday group and all went really well....the musical is decided and we have started full rehearsals with both of my plays...I just need to nail the venue and date and I will be happy.  I am feeling the frustration of being a small independent company and its resulting lack of impact or importance when trying to make bookings.  Never mind...I shall persevere with a smile on my face.  Had THE best week writing -wise....just really getting so much out of it and I hope the kids are too....it all seems to be going quite well at the moment.

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Back to School

Mrs Plug returns to School today, and as a result, I find myself at home alone far more.  Will I cope with the extended silence I wonder.  We did talk about it some time ago, and discussed whether I should get some sort of part time job so that I don't become a hermit.  I do wonder though, whether the silence might just be good for me...after all...if I want to chat I can pick up the phone!  I will be keeping an eye on it, and my general mental attitude.  It is very easy to prevaricate and find myself getting behind on everything.  I am going to wipe a PC and start again with it, but use it as a writing PC and almost certainly avoid any Internet access on it.  I think if I limit my blogging/tweeting/Facebooking etc to specific times that I might enjoy life a little more.

In other news, I now have an Equity card, which is rather fabulous...if for nothing else other than adding a little credibility to what I do to those who doubt...just search for crazymakers in this blog for details of such people.

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An arty day

I am very much looking forward to tomorrow, as we are off out for the day to London to visit some art gallery's and exhibitions.  In the evening we will travel back up to London to see Jim-Bob performing at the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town.  He's a bit of a legend in my eyes, and I am really excited about seeing him, and hopefully meeting him afterwards.  I look forward to reporting back with all the lovely things I have seen :-)

#

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Another day, another play

I received lovely emails today.  The first was the appraisal that my publisher undertook on my second play.  It contained much praise, and some useful constructive criticism.  The second was an email saying "Yes, we would like to publish it".  

Now as I have already had one published, you might think that this was a little less exciting for me, but I have to say that it is even better this time.  The first play was, let's say a little less confident than it could have been.  Perhaps I didn't believe that anyone would really like it?  When, to my surprise, it got accepted, I found that I was able to remove some of the shackles, and just write with a little more freedom.  Whilst I am not sure that the writing was any better for it, I certainly enjoyed the process more, and it actually felt like I was writing something worthwhile.  Both of the plays have been one-act, experimental plays for large, youth casts, and I am embarking on a couple of other plays now which are both already pencilled in for performance.  This sounds a little more impressive than it actually is, but I am then going to try my hand at writing something for the adult market, and something that we could call a little more edgy.  Whatever happens, I now have two emails saying, yes, we liked it, we would like to publish it, and that can never be taken away from me :-)

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Our MP has gone very quiet.

After today's ridiculous "Outing" of William Hague by Guido Fawkes, I fully expected my MP to come out screaming and shouting about privacy and rumour mongering.  She after all, was the "Victim" of such an attack.  She issued a writ against Damian McBride for his slanderous emails...I will not repeat the contents of them, as I do not wish to join in.  Guido Fawkes, or Paul Staines, is a political blogger with a big reputation.  Funny though that Dorries has kept quiet about it, considering that Staines delivered a writ to McBride on her behalf....I wonder if she would deliver a writ from Mr Hague to Staines?

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Magical Mystery Tour Part three

So the tour ended a day early as we were all knackered, and Mrs Plug was not feeling up to much.  We will be partaking of the final day, a trip to Thorpe Park, at a later date to be decided.  The final day was therefore, spent in London,  We started the day in Bedfordshire, getting eldest's GCSE results, which were excellent, and got us all bursting with pride.  We then hopped on the train up to Westminster, and popped over the river to jump on the London Eye.  Youngest had not been on it before, and she loved it, despite reservations about the height of it.  It was my fourth time on it, and I still find it a wonderful treat.  For some reason the vertigo appears not to be too much of a problem on it.  We then hopped back over the Thames, caught the tube to Victoria, and nipped in for a bite to eat in Nandos.  We were spoken to like Children, and this made me crave the service we received in Paris even more.  I don't want my arse kissed, but a few manners never go amiss.  Happily numbed from this awful service by a couple of their excellent South African Ciders, we went to the Apollo theatre and took our seats for Wicked.  The girls have been nagging us endlessly about going to see it, and pretty much knew every word to every song before we had arrived.  I knew little of it other than a couple of songs.  I knew it contained Witches, and was the prequel to the Wizard of Oz, but apart from that went into it with an open mind.  It was truly stunning.  I didn't expect to be caught up in a story about witches and wizards on an emotional level, but it is so much more than that.  There are allusions to politics, studies of friendships and relationships, class and so much more indeed.  Couple with a splendid set, stunning costumes, and a chorus that was small, but incredibly energetic and vocal, you couldn't ask for a better night out.  Rachel Tucker as Elpheba, was excellent, and I hadn't realised that it was "Her off the telly" from "I'd Do Anything" until afterwards.  She was outstanding, and I'm glad I didn't realise who she was until afterwards.  Louise Dearman as Glinda, was funny, and beautiful and fabulous from the start, and even Lee Mead impressed me, which is something I didn't think I would be saying.  We queued at the Stage Door at the end and met Rachel and Louise (Who were both charming and modest) for autographs and pictures....so a great night was had by all.

A lovely end to a busy few days, and home to complete exhaustion!

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Magical Mystery Tour part Two

Up at nine after our made first two days...we had promised the girls a more relaxing day.  We had decided that we need a bit of seaside in our tour, so we popped to Brighton for the day.  A long train journey passing so many of my old haunts brought back many memories, not many of them good.  It does give you perspective though.  We arrived at lunchtime, and found an "All you can eat" buffet place.  I dislike places like this, but i was quick, cheap and convenient, so we were grateful...it wasn't too bad.  Then the girls wanted to hit the shops.  Eldest went with Mrs Plug, and youngest and I did a little shopping but headed for the beach.  It was a very windy day, but the sun came out a fair bit, and we had a bracing time watching the surfers and skimming stones.  We found a second hand book shop and made a couple of purchases, met up with the others, who seem to have been successful in their shopping, and then found a bistro type place for dinner, which was pleasant, but still left me craving Paris :-)  A long journey home, but a pleasant way to spend our second leg.  Tomorrow we start the day with Eldest's GCSE results, and then another fun packed day.....

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Magical Mystery Tour - The First Leg - Paris

We set off on Saturday morning at 4.30 in a cab...the girls had no idea where we were going, but were quite chuffed when we arrived at Luton Airport.  The cab driver was in cahoots, and very sweetly played along with the joke for us.  We were soon on our way to Paris, much to the shock and delight of the girls, neither of whom had flown before.  I detest flying, and was relieved to find that I could disguise this by showing kindness and consideration to youngest on the flight...she of course realised that I was nervous, ad spent the rest of the flight patronising me.  It was my first time with Easyjet and they seemed pretty good.  We arrived at Charles de Gaulle at 8.00 am, and found ourselves on the RER to Gare du Nord, and with a bit of leaping around, ending up at Place de Clichy.  We wandered down the road a bit to show the girls the Moulin Rouge as it was a film they loved.  We took breakfast in a nearby cafe, and managed to successfully negotiate the language with a waitress who's English was about as good as my French.  We then walked to the Hotel in Rue Legendre Monmartre area.  It had been given some crappy reviews on the Internet, but we found it to be fine.  It was old fashioned, but the staff were friendly and helpful, and the rooms and facilities were clean.  We then took a trip back on he metro down to the Place de Concorde and wandered over to the Musee D'orsey.  What a stunning place.  It was full of some of the most famous paintings, and some classics by Degas and Monet to name but a few....We spotted Oscar Wilde in a Lautrec painting, and were stunned by the scale of his work...perhaps rather ignorantly, I was expecting his paintings to reflect his stature.  I think the trip just added to our love of Degas.  We returned, rather exhausted to the Hotel, and wandered down to the Place de Clichy again to a restaurant that I had read about and was recommended to me called Le Wepler.   It was excellent, and reasonable, and we tottered back to our hotel to sleep heavily after that second bottle of Sancere.  The hotel was off the beaten track, and afforded us some views of the less salubrious side of the City, and if I'm being honest, it made the weekend even better.  The slightly seedier side of the city just added to the experience.  We found the service in Le Wepler to be really good, and I was particularly impressed with the immaculate dress and manners of the staff.  The couple on the next room to ours at the hotel were Italian, and were arguing for several hours about the correct location for the young gentleman's trainers.  They eventually feel into silence for an hour, and then spent time making up for their argument in an equally noisy and passionate manner...good for them I say...it is after all Paris that we are talking about.   I was also treated to the sight of the young lady opposite sitting on the balcony of her flat, talking nosily on her mobile for a while....this was enhanced with her lack of many clothes, but perhaps it is my age when I say I would have preferred a bit more sleep.  Never mind...we were up for breakfast at around eight, although due to some confusion over clock timings, Mrs Plug seemed to think that I had buggered up and we had missed breakfast, I enjoyed both my croissants and the humble pie that was served up in the breakfast room.  We started out for the Arc de Triomphe, which was much bigger than I had imagined, and was stunning.  We chose not to go up it, but stopped for a biye and a drink on the Champs Elysee .  We then headed to the Eiffel Tower as I had pre booked tickets to go up.  Neither myself or youngest are particularly good with heights, but I have to say that even I was impressed with the views that it afforded.  It is a dreadful tourist trap though, and we spent most of the hours we were there, politely saying "non merci" to beggars and salesmen alike.  I felt that the tower was more impressive to look at than be on.  We could have been anywhere high up really, but to walk over the Seine and look back on it from the Trocadero was beautiful.  We headed to the Louvre next to see old Lisa.  The Building was beautiful, and even the strange glass pyramid worked in it's own funny way.  The architecture and surroundings were beautiful, but the art itse;f left me a little cold.  Perhaps I just preferred the warmth of the impressionists at D'Orsay, but the huge glut of religious iconography left me feeling a little like we were looking at the same thing over and over....I'm not saying it's bad art, it just doesn't speak to me.  We found the Mona Lisa upstairs, and it does send a bit of a shock through the system to see it.  She is in a large gallery, so you see her from a distance behind what I would imagine is a permanent crowd.  The first reaction is to say, "I don't get what the fuss is about", and from someone who has never particularly cared for the painting I was expecting to be left cold, but it has a certain charge to it...maybe it was the anticipation?  Who knows, but I'm glad I saw her.  We then dashed off to see the Venus de Milo, which was really beautiful, and I really could understand the fuss made about her.  We sat outside the Louvre and people watched for a while whilst youngest dipped her toes in the fountain, and then all too soon it was time to set off back to the Airport.  It was a mad 42 hours, and one which I will never forget.  I adored Paris, it really is as beautiful as people say, and I know I will return there again as a happy and converted tourist.....

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Ready for the off.....

Well....apart from packing a small bag, I am ready for day one of the 5 day "magical mystery tour" as we have so un-amusingly, and un-originally called it.  We will be leaving at 4.30am for the first leg, and should be arriving at our destination for breakfast.  Without giving too much away (If little eyes are watching) we are expecting nice weather.  It has been interesting for Plug Junior's 1 & 2...they have been told to pack a bag, but they have no idea of the destination.  I will attempt to update the blog at some point over the first two days, but will mainly be doing this via the medium of Twitter I think...we shall see how it all pans out :-)

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Holiday time

We have now settled back into life in Bedfordshire after our week's holiday at Mr and Mrs Pops house...and what a superb week we had.  I could blog for hours about what we did and what fun it was, but I have decided to word cloud it all...

Beatrix Potter, Helvellyn, Blue Tarn, Beautiful, Breathtaking, Bluebird Beer, Quiz, Guinea fowl, AlPaca, Maize Maze, Swirrel Edge, Sheep, Alice in Wonderland, Pain, Aching, Rowing boat, Boathouse, Grebe, Striding Edge in the fog, "are you ok", Yorkshire pudding the size of a head, Rumicub, White wine, Stickle Tarn, melted sweets, Lovely People, Missing Ben, Sonos, Laughing

I might add more as I go on.....

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No money for Arts

Yet more proof that the Coalition government's theory on Arts funding is skewed beyond all comprehension.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/we-cannot-offset-arts-cuts-say-philanthropists-2027712.html

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I hate to say I told you so

So the new Minister for Culture has asked major Arts funding bodies to look at cuts of 25 to 30%.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10643425

I recently posted on this subject here http://www.bartonbydesign.co.uk/mr-plug/?p=233

So we are looking at something even more serious.  Whilst I genuinely believe that there is an opportunity for all arts organisations to really innovate and create as a result of the austerity, it would be wrong of me not to rant in the strongest possible terms about the cultural impact of this financial rape of what makes our country so precious.  Just a brief scan through the Arts Council's website http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/ will show you some of the superb, exciting and educational projects that will go under the knife.  Of course, the Arts are seen as a "Soft" subject, but are they really?  When you consider the income that the Arts generate in this country, "Soft" is not the appropriate word.  Soft, is a word that could be applied to the complete failure of this government to address the actual cause of the problems in the first place.  Vince Cable was at the forefront of the criticism of the bankers, but now seems to be keen on leaping into bed with the bankers and kicking those who do not deserve it. Is this what power does for you Vince?  The Lib Dems massive u turn on Tuition fees, which is now mutating into the ill thought out idea of a graduate tax just shows them up to be what they have become; the slightly softer side of what we will grow to think of as the harshest of Tory governments in history.  I wanted to run from the party kicking and screaming.  I have decided however, to rejoin the party, and try to fight against the changes to what was a superb party.  

Whenever anyone questions the "Austerity measures", I have noticed that it is still ok to refer back to the mess that Labour left us in.  I also seem to remember that we wanted to get away from the punch and Judy politics that Cameron Clegg so publicly denounced in the lead up to the election.  This new politics has the stench of the old about it, and I fear for the young people that are going to be affected so very deeply by these ridiculous measures.

I will be writing to my beloved MP on this, and many more issues, and expect a swift response.  I might even update the blog with the letters.

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The final Push

This time next week, we shall be preparing for our week in the Lakes with the lovely "Pops" family.  It is a couple of years since we were last there, and although we will be without our smallest companion this time, I am really looking forward to it.  We approach the end of a hard fourth year of the business, and I am very much looking forward to a break.  We have survived the recession, and numbers have remained good, and when we look at what has happened with so many other companies like ours, we can be rightly proud.  Next year we will be exciting as it will be the culmination of some of my writing projects, and the beginning of some more.  I hope that they turn out to be fruitful, as they not only give the company an edge, but also give me the chance to vent my creative spleen.  We move into the next year with the threat of cuts to the arts hanging over us all.  This new coalition government is waving the axe around with wild abandon, and it is only a matter of time before things start to get difficult in our industry.  I hope that everyone can remain calm, and use it as a creative force rather than a destructive one.  Some of the best works of art can be traced back to moments of austerity.  

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This Apple Business

I write this, dear reader, from the safety and comparative warmth of my new MAc mini. Well I say new, it is actually second hand...a purchase from ebay. I was disappointed to see that my Dell machine, had collapsed under the weight of it's own crapness, and worked out that in order to fix it, I would need to spend somewhere in the region of £150 to £200. It was no longer covered by the inadequate warranty, and as a result, I would be forced to spend around 50% of the original asking price in order to get it up and running again. I object to this. I have over the last year, become an advocate of the "Cloud", and as a result, I have been backing up to my hearts content, just on case a catastrophe like the one that recently occurred befell me. I weighed up the pros and cons of the alternative. I was surviving on my Dell laptop. Recent Dell behaviour leads me to believe that this was not a sensible option and that the laptop should be used as a back up only. I could simply buy another PC, on one of Dell's attractive "buy now pay in ten years time when the machine has long since given up the ghost" deals. Again, this seemed like a less than sensible idea. So off I trotted to ebay to see what was on offer. I also enlisted the help and advice of the army of geeks that I know, and pretty much all of them said "Get a Mac", you wont regret it. I have to admit that a few years ago I would have scoffed at such a suggestion and announced my allegiance to all things PC, however, I have enjoyed the use of my iPod and latterly my iPhone, and in fact become a big fan....so why not I thought. So here I sit...typing away on my Mac. It's weird...it doesn't feel quite right yet...however, all of it seems to work, and I am finding my way around. Much like moving into a new house, nothing quite works to start with, but you begin to feel more comfortable as the days go on. I have to admit also, to a moment of frivolity, in that I have purchased a second mac as well. I was looking for some particular software for this mac, and happened upon a listing for another machine that contained the software I wanted, and lots more....it went for an unbelievably cheap price, and so I await the delivery of my second Apple Baby. All in all, I have spent £160 for 2 machines, Delivery, and software. If they go wrong, then so be it...for that price I cannot really complain, and it will have been, if nothing else, and interesting experience. I shall wait and see how reliable the machines are, and if I become a fully paid up member of the Apple Love-in....so far, I am slightly smitten....like an old pervert in a bar....

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They think it's all over

So have we now reached the stage where the whole of our national game needs ripping up and starting again?  From the evidence on show in South Africa over the last couple of weeks it would seem so.  The world beating members of the squad seemed hell bent on delivering the ball either to the opposition, or very quickly to a team mate so that they didn't have to use their imagination. It reminded me of playing at school, and seeing the kids who didn't want the ball.  So who is to blame?  Or should we be looking for blame...?  Shouldn't we just accept that we are crap and get on with the snooker or something?  Well no...We should be better, and I think we are.  Was it the manager's fault?  Well he certainly made some strange selections.  When you are needing goals desperately, you cannot EVER justify bringing on Emile Heskey for example...but ultimately, the opposition in front of us on paper, should not have been capable of competing with us, whereas in he majority of the games, they outplayed us.  Was the long premiership season to blame?  Well maybe....it does seem to be a cash cow now rather than a football season.  That may have contributed.  Do the players actually care?  Well I'm not so sure they do anymore.... ultimately they can go home and count their millions and the failure in South Africa will soon be forgotten when the Sky cameras are back focusing on them.  I am a very strong believer in the power of youth...and we simply do not train our kids to play football as they should....we get them to "lump it up the middle to the big lad" and it simply will never compete with the skills on display in the rest of the world....but here's the thing....I just don't think the football has been very good at all in this world cup...The press have built it up, and built up the stars, but none of them have really shone so far...the odd performance from Villa, or the occasional mazey run by Messi apart...it's been awful....Teams are more scared of losing than they are wanting to win.  I'm not sure what the answer is....but it needs to be addressed.

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Casualty

As weeks go, this has not been a great one.  Eldest went to hospital for what should have been a fairly routine operation on Tuesday morning at 6.30am.  She is still there on Friday morning.  She suffered from continued bleeding and lost 1.6 litres of blood.  On reflection, this was a massive loss of blood, and could have led to truly awful circumstances.  Fortunately, it was recognised as serious, and a further operation, drips and transfusions were administered.  She appears to be back with us properly today, and with any luck, should be able to come home.  Without going into the whys and wherefores of the surgery and the failure to stop the bleeding, it has been a traumatic week, and I genuinely feel like I have been through surgery.  I've not been able to get to the hospital as much as I would have liked as I have been looking after youngest who has been too upset to go to school.  It has served as a real reminder of how fragile life is, and how precious my family is.  It is amazing how quickly they turn from being a teenager to a baby again.  The whole experience has also left me wondering if we let people in authority walk over us a little too much.  Whilst the vast majority of the staff at the hospital have been superb, there are some really special people there as well...not least the surgeon who carried out the first operation.  His bedside manner was appalling from the first consultations, and nothing has changed my mind since then.  Should I look into the whole incident further?  Well, some dear friends and relatives think we have cause to ask questions at the very least, and I suspect they are right.  I just want my family back here safe and sound first and I will consider what to do next.

I remember World Cups for many reasons.  Italia 90 was spent on a boat on the Norfolk Broads...what a week that was.  I should perhaps blog about it one day.  Then there was the 2002 penalty against Argentina, on the day we moved to our old house.  All these memories interlinked with what we were doing at the time.  What were you doing when Gazza lost the plot in 1990?  I was in Woods Wine bar in Borehamwood...on the brink of tears.  So this time around, the memories will be interspersed with the smell of hospitals, and mad dashes backwards and forwards to the train station.  Then we come onto Sunday.  Germany awaits England, and the usual jingoistic nonsense and references to the war will be mentioned in the popular press.  We have been poor so far, and there is not much evidence that we will get any better, but then I remember 1990 and the dreadful performances that we put in back then, so there is always hope.  The trouble is, even if victory is secured on Sunday, then the whole nation will start to believe that we can win the competition, and in my experience...that is usually a recipe for disaster...We shall see. 

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Fitness update

Well it has been nearly a week since our "Gym" was installed, and so far so good.  The little routine I have worked out seems to be working quite nicely, and I am feeling pretty good as a result of it.  We now have some speakers installed as well so that we can listen to music etc whilst doing it.  I have spent a few hours this week doing a bit of research into diets and what I need to eat.  As I suspected, it is complicated a little by the fact that two other members of the household are wanting to do this to lose weight and I want to get a general level of fitness but also to build myself up a bit.  In particular, as I am prone to the occasional bad back, I have always in the past been advised to "muscle it up a bit".  Those of you that know me, will realise that this is a tall order, and will take some time.

In other news, I have realised how close we are to the Summer holidays, and this pleases me no end.  Eldest has now finished her GCSE's and now has some decent free time before starting in the 6th form.  I am currently writing and working on a number of other shows, and, I need a break.  College work starts soon, and what with this and driving looming on the horizon, I have lots to do :-)

The World Cup has been poor so far, both in terms of England and in general terms.  We still await that "Humdinger" 4-3 game that always seems to come along.  

Off to work out now :-)

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All in the mind

As I continue with my bi-polar tendencies, I find that the morose overbearing feeling of the last few weeks is being replaced by a maniacal energy and enthusiasm.  I am pretty sure this is not right, but will go with the highs while I get them I suppose.  We have just got back from the hospital with eldest as she has her op next week, and all was well.  Seeing her sitting in the hospital gave me a few falshbacks to when she was born.  It may sound like a cliche but it really does only seem like yesterday, and it made me realise how precious the time we have together is.  She of course would probably tell me to stop being a soppy twat, so I shall stop now.  I am about to have my morning workout,  This sounds weird.  I am not even sure I know what to wear for such an event, or whether some form of safety net would be advisable.  I shall do this with the assistance of the audio book version of Alan Bennet's Talking Heads....a work of pure unmitigated genius in my very humble, but usually correct, opinion.  

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Shape up

I have long felt that I need to get a little bit fit.  I work very hard, and in many cases, I have to be on my toes as far as my job, as I might be on my feet for hours at a time when directing.  I need to be energetic when working with kids basically.  Now having reached the princely age of 44, I have just about managed to stay alive, but this is no longer enough.  Mrs Plug also feels that although we may have reached middle age, that is no reason to lie down and die.  Mrs Plug has been going out walking, but that just doesn't seem to be enough, and to be honest, since I lost my doggy, I really struggle with the going out for a walk for no reason.  We decided then, that we needed some other form of regular exercise, and as a result, I am sitting here aching a little.  We have purchased three items of "Gym equipment"; An exercise bike/cross trainer, a rowing machine/gym, and an ab development bench.  The idea is that we place them in the cellar, and have a daily workout.  I realise that in a matter of weeks I shall be failing manfully to put a brave face on the attempt at climbing up a big steep thing in the Lake District, so I am now on an intensive fitness regime :-)  As it stands, everything aches a little, and my stomach is threatening to take my to the European court of human guts.  I hope I can keep it up....everything feels tingly and healthy:-)

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1966 and all that Jazz

So I sit here on a rainy Sunday afternoon with the memories of last nights disappointing result still going around in my head.  The media in general, and the fans on many a football forum are already telling us to take down our flags and to tear up the Panini albums as we have no chance.  It WAS a depressing way for the game to finish, but the negativity is, I believe, one of the major contributory factors behind why we always seem to come away disappointed.  There are only a handful of countries that have ever won the World cup, and for those of us who have not heard it, apparently England won it in 1966 and we haven't been as good since.  Well I hate to mention this, but things have changed slightly since then...I know, I was born in 1966 and I have kind of kept my eye on things since then.  I have watched pretty much all of the games since the start of this world cup, and in fact, most of the games in every world cup since 1974.  It is very rare for a team to come out and start playing to it's full potential at the beginning of a tournament.  In fact, it is perhaps more common for the eventual winners to be fairly slow out of the starting blocks.  Back in the year that shall not be named, England drew with Uruguay in their opener, and the legend that is Gordon Banks told the story on television yesterday.  The press got on the backs of the England team and told then they were crap basically.  This was in the days when the only Wag you would hear of was from the tail of a dog.  I digress....So we witnessed the end of English football by all accounts of last night, however, no-one seems to have mentioned that fact that USA have improved greatly over the last few years, and only last year, beat Spain, and gave Brazil the shock of their lives.The facts however, do not always make for a good story, and lets face it, we all like a good moan.  When you watch the match back, you will see that we had the Lion's share of the possession, and we had several opportunities to have won the game.  It is far easier though, to blame the goalkeeper for one error.  The mature and responsible message that our press want to send out to kids watching this, is that it is the correct and proper attitude to pillory one man for a mistake, when in fact we could and should have won the game at the other end.  Where for example are the critics of Mr Rooney, a player put on a pedestal so high that he must be suffering from vertigo?  He was ineffective, wasteful in possession, and optimistic in his choice of shots.  He is forgiven, as he is a world class player, but Robert Green is not allowed to make a mistake.  The genius perspective would seem to be suggesting that an Injured David James, who makes a habit of the kind of ricket that Green made last night would have been more sensible...or of course Hart, who has not had any International experience.  Again, the obvious facts would appear to be far less important than the apparent god given right to rant.  Emile Heskey raised a few eyebrows here at Plug Acres.  I did not want him in the team, and even after what I consider to be one of his better games, I still do not want him.  The wasted one on one opportunity was enough to show me that he is not good enough at this level, and certainly wont be against the very top opponents.  In 1990, England drew their first game against Egypt, a team MUCH lower in the ranking than the USA are now, and again the knives were out, however, we ended up in the Semi Finals and lost on penalties, Bobby Robson was knighted, and Paul Gascoigne became an unlikely national hero.  The margins are narrow, and I am impressed that so many people seem to know the outcome of the tournament already.  I am envious that they will be able to spend all those hours over the next month doing other things rather than enjoying the spectacle and drama that I shall have to endure.  

As a Spurs fan, I know only too well that it is easy to write off our chances too soon.  Most of the people I know on the Spurs forum I visit were moaning and whining about our manager early on in the season, but now seem to be a little quieter.  Patience is a virtue I believe, and I shall have patience with England for a couple more matches at least.  Anyway...I must dash...I'm off to slag off Algeria vs Slovenia

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