Year: 2010

Media.

The Wire

I recently watched the final episode of The Wire. If you haven’t seen it, its true what people say, its probably the best TV series ever made.

I’ve started watching foreign films (Akira, said to be the best manga film ever made).

On the comedy front, watched Step brothers. Absolutely hilarious (you can watch the “dinosaur” scene here).

Overheard a conversation in the pub the other day. A young woman I know quite well, called Becky, was talking to someone at the bar. Describing a TV series, she was asked what channel it was on.

I was expecting to hear a reply like BBC 3, SKY 1 or something like that. In reply she said , do you know BBC I player ?.  I’ve wondered for sometime, when media would fully cross over from TV to Computer etc. Its started already.

In terms of American TV, I’ve just started watching Prison Break. Fringe has just finished, with a rather disappointing finally.

Nip Tuck, a series Ive been watching for ages, finally finished the other evening. It had  jumped the shark completely. Even the final episode was pretty terrible.

Joss Wheedon’s Doll House has ended. I cant help feeling that it never really found its feet.

House is good as ever, and the jury is still out on Caprica, the series that precedes the dazzling, Battlestar Galactica.

British SUL.

bowler hat

This seems to be doing the rounds by email. I can’t say that I found the things said about other nations, particularly funny, as I have friends from most of them. I did however think it captured the essence of British’ness really well. Have a read and tell me what you think.

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.” Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.” The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from “Tiresome” to a “Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was during the great fire of 1666.


The Scots raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let’s get the Bastards” They don’t have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line in the British army for the last 300 years.


The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from “Run” to “Hide”. The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France ‘s white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country’s military capability. It’s not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert.

Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout loudly and excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”


The Germans also increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbour” and “Lose”.

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans meanwhile and as usual are carrying out pre-emptive strikes, on all of their allies, just in case.

And in the southern hemisphere:
New Zealand has also raised its security levels – from “baaa” to “BAAAA!”.  Due to continuing defence cutbacks (the air force being a squadron of spotty teenagers flying paper aeroplanes and the navy some toy boats in the Prime Minister’s bath), New Zealand only has one more level of escalation, which is “Shit, I hope Australia will come and rescue us”.
Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from “No worries” to “She’ll be right, mate”. Three more escalation levels remain: “Crikey”, “I think we’ll need to cancel the barbie this weekend” and “The barbie is cancelled”. So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Reflection, Painting and Sunday lunch.

The Corning staff canteen. Picture with Matt Bridges and Mike Delafield.

Some of you will remember, about 10 years ago, when I worked at a company called Corning.

Christmas before last, I was out with Dan, and I ran into 2 old friends, Matt and Glenn (Matt is pictured above, along with Mike Delafield).

I’m still unemployed, but I try to keep up a routine, until I get another job (I normally get up early, look for jobs, go for a long walk, come home and then do some technical study).

The last couple of months have been really hard, and Christmas being unemployed is particularly miserable. There have however, been some positive things to come of it.

I have used the time for reflection. One thing I have definitely committed to doing, is living simply, as I do now, once I have another job. Put simply, I will never waste money the way I have previously.

I have also tried to contribute to charity a bit more, and help out friends, where I can. One such example, was Matt Bridges. A busy contractor now, he needed sections of his house painting, and simply didn’t have the time.

Before anyone pipes up about me claiming benefit and working, I actually did it for nothing.

Sunday Lunch at Matts House.

Well not completely for nothing, I got to have this really superb Sunday Lunch with Matt, his 2 daughters Connie and Eve, and I even got to meet his mum.

And, I also learned how to paint !.

All Change

Dan and I after walking Machu Picchu

Danny who I’ve known for 8 years, is leaving Chester. We’ll still keep in touch, but he’ll be 50 miles away, and nipping out for a spontaneous pint, wont be an option. Its basically the end of the “reprobate” period of my life.

Dan is quite a reserved and private person for the most part, and some people can mistakenly take this for arrogance, which it isn’t.

In the time that we have known each other, life has had its ups and downs (especially over the last 2 years) during all of this, Dan has always been around. Whilst not particularly providing tea and sympathy, his straight talk has always been helpful.

he also gave me his old computer, with 8 gig of ram, and 4 processors, its the best one Ive ever owned, given at a time, when I couldn’t possibly have afforded one myself.

We are having a bit of a lads night on Wednesday at 7pm in the  Commercial hotel, if any of you are free, give me a shout.

On subject of old friends, Ben Orford (who made my woodlander knife) has setup a new website. www.benorford.com

Nathans new Cafe on Garden Lane.

Dan leaving Chester, isn’t the only recent change. My lodgers of the past 2 years, Jude and Nath (many of you will remember Nath, as the long suffering barman, from my local the Frog and Nightingale) have decided to move out, and get their own place.

In addition, Nathan has setup a really smart cafe on Garden lane. Ive been there 3 times, its excellent.

The next few months are going to feel really strange…

Badly run pub, IPhone Tv’s and Fish Finger butty’s

Glenn (not Glyn !) watching football on an Iphone.

Couple of weeks ago, Dan and I went into a particular pub on the Canal-side, here in Chester.

The cooler was broken, so we were poured flat warm beer (we weren’t advised in advance that the cooler was broken, we just got them, and we were told we had to pay for them).

Suffice to say, that we didnt drink them and left with little intention of ever going back.

Last night, I was out with a few friends, and met up with an old mate, Glenn Miller (he’s heard every joke about Jazz Musician’s missing on planes already, so leave it out).

For some reason we ended up going into the same pub, to watch United (getting in as much goal hanging experience as they can, in anticipation of their next game against City).

Halfway through the game, the TV stopped working. Everyone in the pub was shocked, but the management didn’t seem to bother. Outrageous behaviour you might say, but too the rescue, came Glenn.

He actually has a Sky subscription on his phone, and by positioning it on the bar, around 8 of us, were able to continue watching the match.

In the picture above, you can see the TV, which had been turned off, as nobody seemed to know how to operate it.

The lads, back at my house for Fish finger butty's

Contrast this, with the Mill Hotel, which we visited later.

After a couple of pints, I invited the Lads back to my house, for that staple of the drinking man, Fish Finger butty’s. But whats this, I didn’t have any bread, and all the shops had closed.

I spoke to a member of staff at the bar, explained my plight, and they went to the kitchen and brought me a whole loaf of bread.

Back at my house, the evening was complete.

Jokes aside, at a time when we are enduring the worst recession in 80 years, and many businesses are fighting for survival, which one of the 2 pubs do you think we will be going back to next week ?.

Music.

The Supremes

Firstly, apologies for not updating the blog in ages. Ive had all sorts of things going on, and opportunities for adventure have been limited.

One thing that did happen was the other evening. I was sat having a quick drink and a song started playing. It was the Supremes, singing This old heart of mine.

Its an old song, obviously. The customers in the pub, were a cross section of every age group, yet it would be no exaggeration to say that there were visibly signs, from everyone in the room, that they were enjoying the song.

Made me wonder. 20 or 30 years from now, are there any songs we are presently listening too, that will illicit a similar response. I sincerely hope so, but I’m not optimistic.

Adventure Chatter.

A picture of the Col De Voza in the Alps.

A new Sports Bar has opened in Chester called Club Globe.  I visited it the other evening.

From its previous incarnation as a private members club, it had some pictures and framed posters on the wall.

What a co-incidence, I saw this one, about the Col De Voza in St Gervais, in the French Alps. In the Winter its a popular Ski destination, but in the summer its popular with walkers and mountaineers.

It was the first hill I ever climbed in the Alps. How co-incidental is that ?

Me Navigating in the Snow.

I was reading recently that Trip Advisor’s 10 best destinations for 2010, actually includes the Scottish destination of Nairn (they normally have loads of places like the Galapagos Islands on their list).

I cant argue with that here, in the UK, the pound is pretty awful against most currency’s in the world and definatly the the Euro. I’ve often enjoyed weekends in the lakes (I can jump in a car straight after work, check into my room, and be enjoying a pint and pie and mash by 10pm) and although Scotland is a bit further, it certainly has travel simplicity on its side.

The other thing about it, is although cottages seem expensive at first (like the one I stayed at recently in Anglesey) once you get there, you can cook your own food and buy cheap drinks from Supermarkets, which drops the cost down massively.

Trying to make the most of the Weather (a bit ironic, since most people are staying indoors) I have been pottering around Delamere Forest, practising my navigation.  The train costs £3.30, Sandwiches cost practically nothing, and I take my own flask for hot drinks.

Another travel tip Ive picked up, is that Tesco Clubcard points, can now be used to purchase Air-miles

victorian-farm

I haven’t done any Bushcraft training or activities, since April last year.

One thing I have really enjoyed recently, is a series called Victorian Farm. Its absolutely amazing the way they run the farm, whith a mixture of simple living and “high tech” Victorian contraptions.

Apparently Ruth Goodman runs classes in traditional living. When life returns to normal, I hope to get involved (I also want to get back to Woodsmoke, feels like ages since I was last there).

Books and employment.

Reading Get Things Done, on the train to Manchester.

I’m still looking for work. The good news, is that my change in status has allowed me to consider a change in vocation, and I recently applied for a job at Waterstones (I would really love to work in a bookshop).

While I was thinking about what job I would like to try my hand at, I considered for a moment, what the worst possible job would be.  After some consideration, I’ve decided that its checking X-Rayed baggage at an Airport. Whilst I know the job has to be done, who in their right mind would WANT a job like that.

Back on the subject of books, one book I keep trying to get into, but never seem to succeed, is ironically Getting Things Done by David Allen.

As a last resort, I even took it with me on a train journey to Manchester (It was calculated by Brian Tracey, that if you sit down to do some work on either a train or a plain, you are 35 times more productive).

I got half way through it speed reading in an hour, but its still hard going.

I’ve also joined Chester library. As part of my daily routine, I am going through my shelf of technology books, and reading for 2 hours each day (I normally read in the library, as I find my room isolating sometimes).

While reading the Citrix and VM Ware books, it was annoying to keep finding things that would have solved “baffling” problems in just a few minutes, when I was at work, if Id only had time to read them (but who HAS time when their actually working ?)

£1000 Jeep - Taking the book Rich Dad Poor Dad seriosly.

Some years ago, I read Rich Dad – Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaka.

I wont spoil the book, but he talks about real ways to make money, the myth of the middle classess and stuff like that.

The book takes its name from his own and his friends family. The two were so close that they considered themselves to have 2 famlies, and therefore 2 dads.

The basic play is that his dad was a lawyer, drove a BMW etc, and his friends Dad owned a pool cleaning business, a shop and stuff like that.  Because his friends dad lived simply and used his money for leverage etc, he died a billionaire, while his lawyer dad, died broke.

One section of the book, talks about how Rich Dad, drove a very cheap knockabout car, despite the fact, that he was very wealthy. The logic went that a Rich Dad, should spend all available money, on assets. Since an asset is something that normally increases in value, and a car normally decreases, it was reasoned that a car could only be an asset, if it could be used to generate money.

I was recently talking to a friend. I wont name him or go into specifics, but he has a property portfolio worth around £1,000,000.

We were discussing the book, which he had also read, and to my amazement, it was the inspiration for him to purchase the vehicle above, which cost less than £1000. The Jeep carries £2000 worth of beer to his pub each week !.

I normally try to act on things that I read in books, but It was amazing to see someone read the same book as me, and take it so literally.

Freezing Weather.

A sunny day. We won't see those for a while.

Well, we won’t see many days or have the opportunity to do things like, this for a while. In short, the weather here in Chester (and indeed the rest of the UK, is pretty terrible).

Lunatic walking across the frozen Canal.

Walking back from a shopping trip the other day, I spotted this “yoof” walking across the ice, being egged on by his friends (from the safety of the bank).

He made it all the way across, and back again, before lampooning at the waters edge, and sinking to his chest in freezing water, before his friends pulled him out.

A Snowman in someone's garden.

On a more traditional front, some of Amelia’s neighbours made this rather excellent snowman, complete with hat, buttons, the whole lot.

Its a sad indictment of society, that they had to put up a sign saying private property, to stop hooligans from destroying it.

Me, well, I’m wearing 2 jumpers as I type this !.

The Burj Dubai Tower.

The Burj Dubai Tower

A few years ago, I was in Dubai. I had been looking forward to it immensely, but to be honest, it felt a bit empty.

The thing is, everyone raves about it, but as a travel destination, rather than a holiday retreat or a business venue, I couldn’t think of many new things to do, once you had been there 48hrs.

One thing that did interest me, was the ski slope in the desert, and the Burj Dubai Tower, which was under construction.

Once completed, it would be just shy of half a mile high (its actually taller than that now).

I read the other day, that it had finally been completed.

Comparison hight chart for the Burj Dubai Tower.

I saw this Chart, showing its relative hight.

I’ve stood in front of the Petronus towers, and all I can say is, if a building is nearly twice THAT high, it must be inconcievably large.

On opening, it was renamed, the Burj Khalifa Tower.  Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan has been responsible for bailing out Dubai financially,  so I wondered if it should really have been called the “Thanks for getting us out of the Sh1t tower” ! (but then I can say that, I’m in a country with relatively free speech !).

Don’t know, if Ill go back to Dubai (although I imagine it is/will be a lot cheaper) but I’m still drawing up a 2nd bluelist for when times get better, and a building that can bee seen with the naked eye, 54k away, must be a sight to behold.