Cycling days

It was perfect cycling weather today. I rode to Colwyn Bay and back, taking the inland route there, and followed the coastal path back. In the Rhuddlan area they have constructed a series of good quality cycle paths that enable people to travel without the danger of the busy roads that criss-cross the coastal plain. The best is the route along the banks of the River Clwyd from the west end of Rhyl to Rhuddlan; they are some annoying gates to open and close, but otherwise it adds a valuable 'green' route for locals and holidaymakers.

Along the Rhyl to Rhuddlan cycle path.

Caerwys past and present

In an occasional series of blogs based upon my collection of old photographs of Caerwys, I have tried to contrast images of the Victorian age with that of the present time. This view of South Street is perhaps the earliest photograph ever taken of Caerwys. It was taken by the well-known photographer Welsh John Thomas, who travelled across Wales capturing every day scenes in the 1870s.

South Street, Caerwys (looking north).

The following image is from pretty much the same place, but over 130 years later (taken by a far less illustrious Welsh photographer).

South Street in 2011 - recognisably the same place.

A reassuringly normal summer.

 I should not do this, but here is a brief blog on the weather. A lot of folk are grumbling about the weather this June. In the west we say it is too wet; whereas in the east of the country the reverse is the case, and they already have a hosepipe ban. A friend said to me yesterday that it was actually a 'cold' June!

Yet nothing has gone wrong with our weather, this June is reassuringly normal. The weather is typical: over the country as a whole the rainfall is average and the temperatures are what they should be. In his 'Weather Eye' article in the Times today Paul Simons analysed the latest Met Office data and concluded that everything was pretty much 'entirely normal'.

As the Atlantic warms (it takes longer than the land) our summer will become warmer and more settled (in theory). June is traditionally a wet month in the west (think of the mud at Glastonbury in years past). I think we should stop worrying and learn to love our northerly climate.

Political eyes.

I watched the Andrew Marr show this morning and was intrigued to watch the body language of Ed Balls. In the final section of the show he was staring in a very unusual (not very friendly) way at David Aaronovitch, the Times columnist. I watched again on i player to see if I had imagined it, but no, Ed Balls seems to go into a trance.

Ed Balls retained this gaze at Aaronovitch for some time.

There may have been some 'history' between the journalist and the politician - nothing new there. However, Ed Balls' message can get lost in his presentational mannerisms: he would not be the first politician to suffer this fate.

The four Ps bike ride.

The view from North Wales.

It might be the most disappointing early summer since the last ice age, but really there is some lovely weather to be had, if you are lucky. This afternoon was perfect cycling weather. My fellow wheelman and I took a hilly route across the Halkyn hills. It was a ride of four Ps: two punctures, along with two pints at the Blue Bell. The view shown in this photograph is looking north over to the Wirral and Merseyside.

Kindled: first book.

Two weeks ago I blogged about my new Kindle and that  the paperback (I joked) was dead. I have now read my first Kindle book, 'The Three Clerks' by Anthony Trollope. I found it no different from reading a paper book, in fact so light is the Kindle that it is rather easier. The typescript on the Kindle is easy on the eye and I was able to read the 500 page novel relatively quickly. I have started my second book - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - and have downloaded Paradise Lost by Milton to follow that. All these books are free.

I will continue to buy paper books. However, my first experience of the Kindle has been a positive one.

My Fitness Pal - state of the nation.

The screen shot above shows the state of my diet using the myfitnesspal ap on my phone. I have been doing the diet for 22 days and, as is shown, I have lost 14 lbs. Of course it is a gimmick - it can't last - but it does allow one to measure calorific intake and set it against exercise. Each morning I wake up with a set amount of calories on my phone; as the day goes by I add my food and it is counted off the total. The ONLY way to get more calories added is to exercise. I ride the bike; one hour at say 14mph gives me another 850 calories. So tonight, with 1410 calories left to spend, I can have all the wine I want.

Herbert Lewis

I have been researching and writing about Herbert Lewis for over 25 years, but last night was something special. In response to an invitation from the  Flintshire Historical Society, I led a walk in Caerwys around the places identified with Herbert Lewis and his family. Then later we moved on to 'Penucha,' the family home just outside Caerwys, where I spoke on aspects of his political life. Items collected during Lewis' long political career were displayed. For me this was a very memorable evening.

Herbert Lewis 1858-1933

The Fox Again.

Through this blog I have followed the fortunes of probably the best pub in the world. Earlier in the year in seemed the Fox Inn was facing closure, then the villagers took it over for a few months. Tonight new tenants moved in and the future looks secure for those of us that enjoy a pint of real ale in beautiful surroundings. I cycled over this evening with V; the beer (called Spitfire) was as good as ever.

The Fox keeping an eye on all those entering the Inn.

The Trouble with Ed.

According to the 'combined' set of opinion polls published this weekend a general election tomorrow would see Ed Miliband lead Labour into government with a 65 seat majority. So why the disquiet his performance as Labour's leader?

There seems to be two forces at work undermining the view of his leadership amongst Labour supporters. The first is that his performance has been judged weak in many areas; he 'needs to develop a persona' quipped one senior Labour figure.

The second (and far more serious) problem facing Ed Miliband is the growing belief that in the long term he will be no match for David Cameron. Labour are ahead in the polls now against a background of deep and unpopular spending cuts, but in 3 or 4 years with an improved economy it will be a different story. The fear amongst many Labour supporters is that a televised election debate where David Cameron is pitted again Ed Miliband would need to be censored as it might contain scenes of political annihilation.

Carmel Cricket Club (quickly revisited)

A wet day has prompted me to look at some old photographs; I found another good shot of Carmel CC 2nd XI from around 1982. The match was being played at the Golch Farm ground. The team that day included the driving force behind Carmel cricket, the late Stan Taylor. It was Stan  - through his sheer love of the game - that encouraged hundreds of boys from the area to play cricket.

Stan Taylor is furthest to the right on the back row, next to yours truly.

Carmel Cricket Club

It is not cricket weather, but I came across this old photograph of a cricket match at Carmel taken on a proper summers day. The image dates from  1982 and shows a game taking place at the Golch Farm ground. The club now plays on a new and much better ground two miles up the road towards Lloc. Yet the memory of Golch Farm matches remains in my mind. The games were always preceded by a grand pick of sheep droppings by willing (?) volunteers.

A wicket falls: it was usually mine, but not on this occasion.

Flaming June

It is not usual for June to be as cool as this, and for all the outside events planned for these weekends it must be disappointing. As K and I cycled in the Vale of Clwyd yesterday we were bombarded with torrential rain and hailstones. The current outside temperature (time of writing is 13.30) is just 8.6 degrees. The outlook is for the cool unsettled conditions to last for days to come. The pattern of our summers seems set at glorious spring weather and then high summer dominated by successive Atlantic low pressure systems.

Sail the Ocean Blue (again)

Reflecting on my less than complimentary review of the HMS Pinafore production at Theatre Clwyd last night, I have searched for the ultimate performance of this operetta. Oddly I soon came up with the Simpsons. It was done in an unforgettably way by Sideshow Bob. Being a cartoon character Sideshow Bob can't really sing, and the real voice was that of Kelsey Grammar. I try not to include many links in my blog, but here is one (and a picture of Sideshow Bob): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DheCL5y2xtU&feature=related

Be afraid: Sideshow Bob

Sail the Ocean Blue.

This evening I went to see HMS Pinafore performed by the Dee and Alyn Operatic Society. It is one of my favourite Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and I expected great things. This version was part operetta part Broadway. They even managed to get the can can in at one stage; Buttercup was played as if she was Nessa from Gavin and Stacey. The sailors were portrayed as being 'camp'. And  as for the music, it was was played on four electric pianos, with a small amount of percussion.

Gilbert and Sullivan lends itself to being modernised and parodied, so I was prepared to like this production. The same company did The Sorcerer two years ago and I really liked it, but I did not feel the same tonight. Some of the G&S magic was there, but taken as a whole this was not the best production I have seen. I have booked to see HMS Pinafore at the Buxton G&S Festival later in the summer - fingers crossed!

Kindled

Yesterday I got a Kindle: The printed book is dead. RIP. Later in true historical style I will build a bonfire and burn my books, while I dance around the flames.

Of course I am not serious, nevertheless the Kindle may sound the death knell for many printed books in the not too distant future. I pondered long and hard about buying one, and still feel uneasy when I look at my shelves of books collected over many years. Yet in reality the display of printed books can be a status thing: a man's intellect measured by the size of his book shelf.

I will continue to buy printed books, but the poor quality of the major book shops makes it difficult to find rare or unusual titles. So for the time being I shall enjoy my new Kindle and my paper books equally.

My Saddle My Brooks.

During these glorious early summer days I have been cycling around the local lanes on my favourite bicycle. And the favourite part of my favourite bicycle is the saddle. My pedalling partners will complain about a sore derriere, but I never suffer. The secret to my cycling comfort is the Brooks saddle; made in England for many years it has brought relief to countless chaffed bottoms. They are not cheap, and they take a few months to break into shape, but one they have learnt the curvatures of ones nether regions they will give a life time of service. All they require is the application of some leather oil from time to time. Here is a photograph of my well worn Brooks:

My Great Grandfather and the Rechabites

This afternoon I was reading the local papers for the year 1942 when I stumbled across an account of my great grandfather's funeral:

From the County Herald, April 1942.

I recognise many of the names present at the Flint funeral, and I can just about remember the Feather Street address where my great grandfather lived. It was later demolished to make way for the tower blocks that now dominate the sky line of Flint.

There is a reference in the account to my great grandfather being involved with the Rechabites. In fact he appears to have been a leading member of the so-called 'Flint Tent'. The Rechabites were essentially an anti-drink association that took their inspiration from biblical writings (thus calling each branch a 'Tent'). It is unlikely that they met in a big tent somewhere in Flint, but you never know. The Rechabites were much more than an anti-drink movement as they provided insurance and welfare for their members in the days before the welfare state that we have today.

The Rechabites at their next meeting paid tribute to Thomas Ellis Erasmus, my great grandfather, for his devotion to the cause of temperance. According to the news account of their meeting he has been a member for over 60 years and had been the first 'juvenile' in Flint to be 'initiated' into the movement. His life time of anti drink had been prompted by his father (my great great grandfather) who delivered malt to the local breweries in North Wales and got rather too fond of sampling the final product.

I thought earlier that I would raise a glass to the memory of my great grandfather, but then I decided not to, as he certainly would not have appreciated it.

University Challenge

This afternoon an excellent plumber came to my house and fitted a new shower; if anyone needs a good plumber I am happy to pass on the contact details. Anyway, the point of this blog is not to discuss my plumbing, but rather make a point about the future of higher education in this country.

Yet it was the arrival of this skilled (and amiable) plumber that made me think about the future of university education. The aforementioned plumber was providing a service; the unspoken, but clearly understood, contract was that if I am happy with the work (and I am) then I will pay the bill. I am the client, he is the service provider, and the outcome is the successful completion of the contract.

With the advent of £9000 tuition fees at most universities it will be interesting to see if students develop into clients and universities into service providers. To my mind the relationship has never been of that nature; students took the responsibility for their learning and got what they could from the institution. If they wrote a poor essay or failed an exam then it was the student not the university that was to blame. Poor teaching rarely came into it; in fact first year students are often taught by post graduate research students (I did just that when I was completing my PhD). Will first year students paying £9000 a year for tuition be prepared to put up with tutorials from teachers with no teaching qualifications; or from eccentric but brilliant Dons? Will they question results, or essay marks? Will universities be asking to students to sign disclaimers? What about the brilliant A Level student with 4 A grades, who goes on to get a lower second, who will be to blame? As for Reading Weeks, well I dread to think!

The point I am making is that if a client to service provider relationship develops between students and university teachers then it is likely to lead to fewer independently minded students, less able to accept responsibility for their own performance. It will also be a field day for the lawyers.