moving at the speed of life

Since returning from Barcelona, life seems to have got the better of me and I’ve found that I’ve had little time to myself over the past few weeks. Not only to sort out the photos like I promised, but also to formulate my thoughts into some semblance of cohesion. I suppose, it does one good to have a break away from blogging, it can become an all consuming obsession, if you let it!

My schedule, personally and with work is quieter next week and I should be able to sit down and get my head straight, and maybe finally get some of the Barcelona photos up and to catch up on laundry. That is an altogether different story.

Even though I haven’t posted. I have been keeping tabs on those blogs that I read regularly, so i don’t feel too much out of the loop.

Barcelona Day 4

Today has been pretty chilled in more ways than one, after yesterday’s scorching sunshine, today was a lot cooler and cloudy. As such we decided to walk up to the university and explore the shops and see where the winding side streets led us. Along the way we made a few purchases and stopped periodically for drinks and a rest. Due to all the walking Ian has developed a bad knee and has had some problems walking and climbing stairs, but nothing that has hindered our experience.

Quite by accident we stumbled upon what must be the Islamic quarter of the city where the majority of the shop’s signs and notices were in Arabic. We didn’t stick around too long as we were getting some strange looks, but then again it might just have been my imagination. Ian has nicknamed this area “Little Iraq”.

From there we made our way via La Rambla to the Barri Gotic area and the now more familiar streets and shop’s where I picked up a few gifts. On our return to the hotel we had a little nap, can’t you tell we’re getting old!

Once we’d woken, showered, shaved and changed we went back out to a nice little restaurant we’d found not too far from the hotel. We both indulged in a nice fillet steak each to finish off our stay.

We fly home tomorrow on the 7.20pm plane back to Leeds-Bradford so we only have the morning to play with, once we’ve packed that is.

Next post should see me back home in Penistone once I’ve had chance to sort out the best photos.

Also it’s back to work on Wednesday. Yipee! Not!

Barcelona Day 3

We gave up on the Picasso Museum as soon as we saw the queue! Spent the whole morning by the beach and Port Vell, didn´t realise just how strong the sun was as we´ve both quite caught the sun!

I know it´s been snowing back home, but when the sun is as strong as it is here, it´s quite unreal.

This afternoon we had a walk around the gothic quarter of Barcelona and took in some of the architecture and sights that are bountiful in this part of the old town. It was pretty quiet being a Sunday, but there were still plenty of people aboout. Found a really nice restuarant, very old world Spain, fantastic fillet steak and very reasonable too!

I forgot to mention, on Thursday night, the  night we arrived, Ian and I were accosted by three lady prostitues on our way back to our hotel after having a meal out. I wouldn´t really mention it, apart from the fact that these women were obviously onto a loosing game from the outset, but later we found out that the reason they were touching us up wasn´t really the reason we thought. The nice lady in the hotel told us they were searching for our wallets and were probably pick-pockets. Luckily for us, we´d already heard that pick-pockets were a problem and so had moved our wallets to our front pockets instead. It all adds to the local colour!

Barcelona Day 2

After breakfast and taking some t-shirts back that didn’t fit, either European sizes are smaller or Ian and I have put on weight since we arrived! We jumped on the Metro and made our way to the Parc Zoologic. After paying our entrance fee, almost 15 Euros each, we made our way inside. We knew it would be busy being a Saturday but we were very suprised to see the queue for the dolphin show extend almost halfway around the park. The zoo has the usual array of exhibits but what suprised me was the wide variety of species, for example not only did they have lions, tigers and leopards but black panthers, linx and cougars also.

I was very pleased to see giraffes, rhinos, hippopotamuses, elephants and a wide selection of monkeys and gorillas. Ian attempted to engage a chimpanzee in conversation, the young chimp was obviously not in the mood as he very pointedly turned his back on Ian, much to my amusement. As soon as Ian walked away the chimp turned back around! I took almost 4 hours to get around the zoo, which in my book is a great day out. After we left the zoo, with tired feet we took refuge in a small bar by the beach and people watched until our feet and legs had recovered.

From there we walked along the beach front at Barceloneta up to the huge golden fish sculpture and back again to Port Vell. By this time our legs were dropping off so we wearily made our way back to the hotel. We have decided to save the Picasso Museum until tomorrow.

I guess tonight will be a short trip out for an evening meal and then back to the hotel for an earlyish night. We’re too long in the tooth now for clubbing after the day’s exercise we’ve had.

Barcelona Day 1

This morning we took the Metro to the Sagrada Familia, it’s really the only place here that’s on top of both our sightseeing wishlists. Neither of us were disapointed in what we saw. The temple’s construction started in 1882 and is still very much a work in progress. The temple is a must for any visitor to Barcelona as words can not do justice to this architectural marvel. I will post some photos and upload my DVD bid to YouTube as soon as I get back. Tomorrow is the zoo and Picasso Museum.

Wishing I had a TARDIS

This week already seems to have flown past, I’ve been trying to cram 5 days work into 3 days and not really being that successful. I wish I had a TARDIS or one of those time turners that hermione Granger has in the Harry Potter books, then I just might be able to do everything I need to do before I go to Barcelona.

Talking of TARDISes, have you seen the new trailer for the start of season 4 of Doctor Who? If you haven’t enjoy it. I’m going to be away for the first episode, but have set my media centre to record it, can you get the BBC in Spain?

playing catch up with time

It’s been a while since my last post, life seems to have gotten in the way as it so often does. Since the Easter bank holiday I don’t seem to have had a minutes peace, and quite a lot has happened but I’ll try and remember everything. So starting at the bank holiday, we share the bank holiday with our anniversary, this year we celebrated our 9th year, seems only like yesterday when we met to be honest, we use the Easter bank holiday Monday as our anniversary date even though it’s different each year, as neither of us can remember exactly what date it was back in 1999. This year we ent out for a great meal at the Thai Pavillion, (Station Parade, Harrogate) the food, service, atmosphere and price were brilliant and I can’t recommend this place highly enough.

We also picked up the tickets for Barcelona over the weekend, we fly out on the 3rd April. Can’t wait. On the Monday we didn’t really do much, caught up on sleep, watched Tv and generally vegetated in front of the TV. On my way back home to I stopped off at the hole in the wall at the bank to draw out some money, only to find that my account was empty. It shouldn’t have been. On the following day and back at work, I went into the bank in my lunch hour and asked them to investigate. It seems that due to a an error, someone had incorrectly transferred all my money into someone elses account. They obviously apologised and tried to rectify the error, which they did to a certain extent. During the period my money was missing, my mortgage company had also tried to take a paymeny, which bounced, and consequently they also charged me for their trouble. I then had to sort all that out too. My bank have offered to pay all charges on my mortgage and my normal account, but I’m still not happy. I feel the need to shout at someone other than the woman who has tried to put things right, who has been as sweet as can be throughout the whole affair.

Last week, work was a nightmare, someone tried to blame me for something that had gone horribly wrong. I wasn’t to blame and made my thoughts and feelings perfectly plain about the whole issue and what I thought about that certain person trying to use me a scapegoat.

Although it wasn’t my fault it fell to me to try and salvage the whole situation, because suprise, suprise I’m the only one with the necessary experience and qualifications to do so. I have done and everyone involved have been very complimentary except the person who tried to point the finger of blame in my direction. She, has remained tight lipped throughout. I will deal with her in time, as Shakespeare said, “revenge is a dish…” etc.

Had a reasonable weekend this weekend, had a couple of meals out with Ian, we bought a couple of DVDs and have watched those this weekend, one was an old Agatha Christie story which neither of us had seen before, even though it was made in 1981. That was enjoyable, we both love Agatha Christie’s work and also the Poirot & Marple series and own every episode on DVD, this was a stand alone story called The Seven Dials Mystery which has only just been released. We didn’t guess the ending.

It’s now Sunday night and I’m back home having forgotten today was clock adjusting day due to day light savings. I’ve lost an hour and now feel slightly out of sync with everything.

It’s a short week at work as we fly out on Thursday. There is internet at the hotel so watch out for posts if I don’t manage to post again at home before we go.

Sir Arthur C Clarke

“Ad Astra”

1917-2008

RIP

Heather Mills McArtney

I’m glad that the recent unpleasantness over the divorce settlement has finally come to a conclusion.

 

Perhaps now she’ll finally shut the f*ck up!

The desecration of something beautiful

Ok, so it’s not in the league of having the Mona Lisa vandalised, or having the penis knocked off Michaelangelo’s David. It’s not even in the league of having someone throw paint over a Tracy Emin sculpture, but then again, would we notice the difference.

I’m talking of personal grafitti, the deliberate act of writing or drawing on your own body, either temporary or permanently. Tattoos have been part of our worldwide tribal culture since man first learned to use tools and ink over 4,000 years ago, we are familiar with tattoos, familiar with the tribal culture that they represent. Tattoos have been classified as body art for a long time, but only since the 19th century have words and slogans been included in tattoo art.

I myself have two tattoos, one on my left arm, which is a tribal design encircling my entire bicep, the second tattoo is a stylised bat on my right shoulder blade which, for obvious reasons, I can’t see on a daily basis, therefore I sometimes forget it’s there. The one on my arm I see everyday and depending on whether I wear long or short sleeves depends how much I see it.

I like tattoos, don’t get me wrong, I think they can enhance a person’s body; make them sexier. I also think that the addition of tattoos to some people does the complete opposite. I refer to  Mr David Beckham. Once again he has defiled his body with the addition of new tattoo. This time it’s a Chinese proverb.

The proverb reads: “Death and life have determined appointments. Riches and honour depend upon heaven.” It’s another of his tattoos that are fragmented and unconnected to the rest, there is no general theme to his body art, it seems to be a case of where ever there is enough space. Tattoos are permanent, and if you get it wrong, can be very embarrassing, as in the case of his incorrectly spelled Hindi tattoo depicting the name of his wife Victoria, you can’t just rub them out and start again!

Tattoos as enhancements are great, but I really don’t think that they do anything for David Beckham, in fact just the opposite, they detract from his physical beauty. I wonder how long companies like Armani will consider David Beckham as the face or crotch of choice for their product if he continues to ruin the very thing that people want to see.

 

I’m convinced the pose he was placed in for the Armani men’s underwear advert was deliberate to hide as many of his tattos from the camera lens as possible.

on political correctness

In my job, I’ve got to be politically correct. It’s a part of my job description that says that I have to ensure that a safe environment exists for anyone that comes to my place of employment. By a safe environment, they mean, free from harassment, bullying, stereotyping, sexism, homophobia, racism, age-ism and any other “obia” and “ism” you can think of.

As most of you will know, I work with the “harder to help” people of our society, the long term unemployed, the asylum seeker or refugee, those with learning difficulties, economic migrants that can’t speak English and the genuinely bone-idle.

“Oh, that wasn’t very politically correct!” I hear you cry. Well you’re right,  it wasn’t and I’ll try and explain why. I’ve been doing this job now for 5 years, over those 5 years I’ve seen people come and go, some more than once, in 6 monthly cycles. Hamster wheelers we call them. People who spend their lives on 6 months training courses improving their language, literacy and numeracy skills. Sometimes they even have a break by going to another organisation, then 6 months later they’re back with us. Sometimes because they’ve been kicked off that course and we’re the only ones left that will have them.

Some of the time we see people who genuinely want to better themselves, so they can apply for a job that isn’t minimum wage. These people usually don’t stay with us for long, they work hard, pass their exams and leave into employment. Those instances are success stories. They probably would have done it anyway, we just give them a spring board to launch off.

Most of the time we have people who really don’t want to better themselves, they’re with us because if they don’t, they’ll lose their social security money, their housing benefit. They don’t want to work, they’re comfortable in their little zone of modest existence where everything is paid for them and all they have to put their hand in their pockets for is bus fare, food, weed, cigarettes and booze.

They’ve been unemployed so long, they can’t remember what “going to work” feels like. They’ve lost the whole ethos.

I once asked a guy who’d been unemployed for 15 years, “What do you do?” He replied that he was a “Polisher” of cutlery, this was Sheffield, where cutlery making was once a huge industry. I replied quite bluntly, that that was 15 years ago and that he was unemployed and had been for over a decade. He wasn’t and hadn’t been a “Polisher” for quite some time.

I had to force him to realise that the life he knew was dead and gone and that he had to move on. His chances of finding another job where his skills and expertise were needed were consigned to the history books, Sheffield no longer had a thriving cutlery industry and as such he was obsolete.

That’s where a lot of these people are still, living a life that isn’t doing them any favours. Sometimes, we have to break the cycle and sometimes that also means we have to drop the political correctness and tell it like it is. Sometimes, we have to blow away the fluff of “nice” and make them face up to the reality of what’s happened to their lives while they’ve been sat watching day time TV. Most of them have no aspirations, no hopes of a better future beyond the once weekly lottery draw, because they’ve forgotten what foreign holidays can be like, they see a BMW and see a car, not a dream nor a lifestyle, they have nothing to strive for and they have become bitter.

Last year when I’d booked my annual holiday, one of my students asked me where I was going. “Miami”, I replied smiling.

“They must be paying you too much.” he stated quite sourly.

“No,” I replied, “they pay me exactly what I’m worth, with my qualifications that I worked hard for, my years of experince, my dedication to my job and the fact that I turn up on time everyday and do what’s expected of me without complaining or grumbling, that’s why they pay me and that’s why I can afford to go to places like Miami, each and every year.”

“It’s alright for some, you’ve got a job.” he countered.

“Yes and so did you until you gave it up because it hurt your feet.” I reminded him, “I’m afraid it goes with the job of being a waiter, you can’t do that type of work sat on your backside with your feet up.”

Sometimes, just sometimes, you have to point out the obvious, throw away the political correctness and just be plain and direct.

back to the normal routine

Well folks, my flu has finally gone and I’m fit and well enough to resume normal weekly activities, I know I’ve been back at work all week suffering in silence, but his weekend I’m feeling ok enough to travel through to Leeds.

Last weekend, being stuck at home, was awful. I was bored out of my head not being able to do the things that I normally would. I miss Ian, who I haven’t seen in 2 weeks due to the flu and putting myself in quarantine, so it’s going to be great to be able to spend the weekend with him again. Even if we don’t so anything special, it’s just going to be liberating being able to have the option of going out or snuggling up in front of the TV.

I’m feeling quite up beat today, we’ve had a good team meeting at work and it looks like the future for us is rosey, with lots of new contracts and some cast iron guarantees for future business, so I can rest assured my job is safe for another few years. It’s always a concern when you’re funded by the government, whether their priorities change and the emphasis shifts away from what you’re doing, but it looks as though everything is hunky dorey. There is even talk of expansion, so all is good news.

I’ll be away from my pc until my normal Sunday night checkin…

Have a great weekend!

Partners in Crime

Not long to go now before the start of season 4…

Jonny dropped for a younger man

The BBC report today that Jonny Wilkinson says his international rugby career is not over despite being axed from England’s team to face Ireland. Danny Cipriani replaces Wilkinson at fly-half but the World Cup-winner insists he can recapture his place.“The fire is still there,” said the 28-year-old. “I’ll never stop going out every day and trying to get better as long as my body’s in one piece.

( I have to admit Jonny, it’s still looking good from where I sit!! )

Although his place has gone to a man eight years his junior, Wilkinson insists his own belief will not waver even if he never considered his own place as sacrosanct. “I’d never walk around thinking I’m going to get dropped or I’m not good enough, because I don’t believe either. I’d also never be arrogant enough to think I’d always be picked either.” Wilkinson revealed his admiration for Cipriani, calling him “a great player with a fabulous future ahead of him - I respect him.”

Cipriani admits he has big boots to fill in Wilkinson’s, but is undaunted by the task.

“It was always a dream of mine to play for England, and playing fly-half I realise it is a hard task to take over from a legend,” he said.

“I’m sure Jonny will give me as much support as I gave him when I was on the bench. l’ll talk to him about things to make sure things are sweet - everyone knows as a player and a person you can’t replace Jonny, so I will just be myself this week.”

(I have one thing to add Jonny…I don’t think the fire has gone out just yet…!)

Not Potter but Hotter

At the beginning of February, Harry Potter star performer Daniel Radcliffe gave up the lead reigns as Alan Strang in the touring play Equus by Peter Shaffer.

Daniel’s role in the show was originally sensationalised by the press and other media as he had to appear naked on stage, showing once and for all that the Harry Potter star had actually and quite impressively grown up. Photos of his naked and semi naked torso were splashed all over the press and if I’m being honest, also all over this blog at the time.

 

The photos appeared everywhere, including the now famous “fake” photo of his magic wand, but that photo has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be a photoshopped fraud, so I’m not going to reproduce it here. 

Daniel’s place in the show has been taken by Alfie Allen, son of Brit actor Keith Allen and brother to pop songstress Lily. Alfie is no stranger to controversy, his sister wrote one of the songs on her best selling album about him, and it wasn’t complimentary. Alfie recently commented on the song, saying that he was in a diferent place in his life when that song was written and the person Lily sang about then, no longer exists.

When Alfie’s appointment to the role was made public, the media clamoured to get their hands on the promotional stills for the show to see if he “measured up” to Daniel. They were disappointed as the official stills, do not show Alfie naked.

The images below are the original Hi-Res photos, to view them original size, simply click on the image and they will open in a new window.

When Daniel was in the role he was 17 years old, the same age as the character is supposed to be in the play, however Alfie is currently 21 years old but believes that he can play the role in a more modern way than Daniel did. Alfie has not had as much acting experience as Daniel and has only had small roles in films such as Atonement, which is where he came to the attention of the play’s producers. Alfie is joined on stage by veteran actors Simon Callow and Linda Thorson.

The play will be performed in Sheffield and Bradford during April and May. I may just book tickets to see the show in Bradford, just to see what all the hype is about.