Wednesday 27 July 2011

Great golf holes in Flintshire

The 6th hole on the Pennant Park golf course is a tricky par 3. The green itself is in a 'bowl' surrounded by sloping banks covered with trees. However the approach to the green is made more interesting by  deep reed filled ponds, and it is there my first ball ended yesterday. The water hazard creates doubt before the shot is even made. To counter this my playing partner repeatedly chanted 'there is NO water': his ball soon followed mine with a splash. It is also a relatively long par 3 at 199 yards. There are other great holes on this golf course, but this - to my mind - is the best on the front 9.

The 6th hole at Pennant Park on a perfect summer evening.

More like Clem

In my blog I have not always been very complimentary about Ed Miliband. Therefore when I read an article earlier suggesting that he might be the new Clement Attlee I was surprised to say the least: http://www.iaindale.com/posts/is-ed-miliband-the-new-clem-attlee?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

To my mind Attlee was the greatest peacetime (perhaps all-time) Prime Minister this country ever had. Like Ed Miliband, Attlee was no orator, but he ran his party and then government with consummate skill. Attlee played to his strengths and allowed his cabinet ministers to do the same; he certainly did not try to imitate Churchill. I suppose that if Ed Miliband plays to his own strengths and does not try to be yet another heir to Blair then the Attlee comparison might not seem so far fetched.

Churchill was often cruel to Attlee, despite having worked alongside him during the war years. On one occasion Churchill joked that an empty taxi pulled up outside parliament and Clement Attlee got out. Yet it was the quiet understated man that was to have the last laugh. I wonder if Ed Miliband has read Franicis Becket's article; he should.

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Hardly rocket science...

The last flight of the space shuttle took place recently. I can remember the first launch  in (I think) 1982 when we watched during a school lunchtime in the physics lab. Later in 2003 I was fortunate enough to visit Houston, Texas and actually sat in the cockpit of one of the early shuttles. Admittedly, I am not really astronaut material but I thought it was incredibly cramped and claustrophobic. Anyway, here is the photo of yours truly in the spaceshuttle:

Hardly rocket science (and yes I did that joke at the time).

Monday 25 July 2011

Liberal decency

Those who blame religion for the terrible events in Norway last Friday are wrong, well at least partly wrong. Such dreadful dangers come as a result of fixed, unbending ideas, where doubt never happens - this is not necessarily about religion, but can be. Nazism, for example, was not religious, yet violence on a vast scale was carried out in it's name. The same can be said for Stalinism that did what it could to destroy organised religion in the USSR.

It was humbling to hear one of the young survivors admit that that they had not been strong enough to tackle the madman, but he said in the end liberal decency will prevail in Norway, and we can hope elsewhere too.

In  blog earlier this year I recounted my experience observing an English Defence League rally in Shotton. The events in Norway reminded me of the venomous hatred these EDL people had in their faces; it was same hatred that led to the massacres in Norway.

Sunday 24 July 2011

A bicycling Idyll

This summer I will mainly be reading books by H.G.Wells. I started with a wonderful - if lesser known - novel entitled 'Wheels of Chance: A Bicycling Idyll'. It is an engaging romance set against a cycling tour of the south of England in the early part of the last century. In the end our cycling hero Mr Hoopdriver fails to get the girl, but the bike changes his life.

H.G.Wells himself was a keen wheelman and I especially liked this description of the central character's style of bike riding:

'He did not ride fast, he did not ride straight, an exacting critic might say he did not ride well - but he rode generously, opulently, using the whole road and even nibbling at the footpath...He doubted his steering so much that, for the present, he had resolved to dismount at the approach of anything else upon wheels'.

Large vegetables

Like most British folk I find large vegetables amusing. So I was especially delighted to dig up this enormous potato from my raised bed this afternoon. I could not bring myself to eat it; maybe tomorrow. So for all those that find large vegetables amusing here is my enormous spud:

It weighs 1lb and 4oz. Respect.

Friday 22 July 2011

Brynford's public art

On my favourite cycle route I pass a newly constructed piece of public art. I imagine that most people are often indifferent to artwork  in public spaces, however these three characters in Brynford have caught my imagination.


They are clearly lead miners enjoying their sandwiches (or snap, as they probably would have termed it in these parts). The figures are carved out of some kind of hard wood and they have metal plated waistcoats. Lead mining has literally shaped the whole of the Brynford area so it is a piece of art in context geographically and historically. Just as importantly, the work is humorous; I think people will smile when they inspect this clever work. In one sense the figures echo Antony Gormley's iron men sited on the beach north of Liverpool. My only gripe is that there is no information about the figures, or of the artist that created them.

Thursday 21 July 2011

The best golf holes: Mold's Waterloo

Waterloo is the name given to the 6th hole on the Mold golf course. It is the signature hole of the course and with good reason. The hole itself is only a par 3, but the elevated tee position and the spectacular views make it a memorable one for golfers of all abilities. The exposed tee makes club selection critical; if it is calm, as it was last evening, I tend to take a pitching wedge.  Yesterday I played my first shot fairly well onto the front edge of the green, but poor putting spoilt the final score (4).

DG tees up at the fantastic 6th hole at Mold

A close rival to Waterloo is the 8th hole (called the Ridge); this is a small but beautifully situated plateau type green. It is not easy as the green is protected by numerous bunkers and falls away steeply on either side.

The immaculate 8th.

Sunday 17 July 2011

Wind in the Nannerch Willows (further reflections)

Toad is a fascinating character. He was clearly psychologically damaged and  mental health services do not seem to have adequately assessed his needs. Toad's compulsive disorders were self-evident and early intervention might have prevented him getting into a life of crime. Yet the entire legal system must also fall under the spotlight: Toad clearly benefited from his social standing and the magistrates were prepared to be lenient for the price of a decent breakfast in Toad Hall. Toad took advantage of his elevated social position and the deference shown to him by the lower orders, especially in his abuse of the Horse, who he was prepared to sell for 5 shillings a leg. The finale sees Toad apparently cured; but the truth is that he has simply learned to deceive his river bank friends and gain the attention he craves in other ways.

The story of Toad therefore portrays many of the failings of the modern state. There is surely a need for an extensive inquiry into the role of the psychiatric services in the community (especially in the river bank area), class bias in the legal system, and indeed the failure of traffic police to deal with Toad's repeat petty driving offences prior to theft of the car and the pond incident.

Saturday 16 July 2011

Wind in the Nannerch Willows

This evening I enjoyed an excellent outdoor production of 'Wind in the Willows' put on by the Nannerch Players. While the script was adapted for stage by Alan Bennett, Kenneth Grahame's original lines are often brilliantly funny and perceptive. The play works for children as a rather bizarre story, yet it also contains deeper meanings, especially I think when Toad finally learns that to succeed in life he has to deceive his friends by hiding his true personality. In the end Toad gets away with it!

This production took place in an idyllic setting in a field in Nannerch. The set itself was impressive and contained a moving rowing boat, a canal boat, and even a vintage car (before Toad crashed it) was driven on. The costumes were outstanding. Of special note on a large set, and on a breezy evening, was the quality of the sound. Every syllable uttered by the actors was audible. Nannerch Players have some very talented actors; a memorable evening!

Ratty and Moley start their epic adventure.

The cast take their well-deserved applause; the rain held off until the moment the show ended.

Friday 15 July 2011

Dad's Army (revisited)

The British Home Guard Pocket-Book (referred to in an earlier blog) contained valuable advice for dealing with enemy German cyclists. I am not convinced  the Germans were going to invade Britain on their bikes, but if they had the Home Guard were waiting for them. The Pocket-Book offered the following tactical suggestions to meet the cycling foe. I quote directly from the Home Guard Pocket-Book:

'The best trap for a cyclist is a wire stretched across a road about four feet up...cut a strand of barbed wire loose in the hedge on the one side, with your bayonet or tool. Draw the wire across the road and make it fast...If there are several cyclists let them all crash, and shoot or club them individually, starting with those who manage to pull up before crashing'.

It was probably this kind of deadly military planning that persuaded Hitler to invade the Soviet Union instead.

A dog like Pip.

Since we have had Pippin he must have cost us hundreds of pounds. Vet bills aside, he has chewed the linoleum in the kitchen, damaged the doors, eaten dinners (mine), munched an ipod, eaten the back of my car seat, pulled cushions apart, destroyed shoes, trashed the garden, made holidays difficult and more. Yet I still love the old rascal. Here he is:

Flint Festival

Playing their part in the annual Flint Festival, Caerwys Male Voice choir tonight took part in a very successful Cymanfa Ganu. The Cymanfa (community hymn singing really) took place in St John's United Reformed Church; it was standing room only! Our choir did four songs reasonably well, but with a full chapel the final rendition of Cwm Rhondda was the highlight of the evening. Perhaps these are the type of events that Caerwys Male Voice Choir should focus upon in the future.

The roof was not quite lifted off the splendid St John's chapel in Flint.

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Dad's Army

On my 'to do' list is to research and write something substantial on the Flintshire Home Guard.  Anticipating this project I  bought The British Home Guard Pocket-Book for 1942.


The pocket-book makes a good but very unusual read. It provided practical advice for the amateur soldiers that were expected to take on the might of the German army had the invasion taken place. The Home Guard has been subjected to ridicule mainly due to the 'Dad's Army' television series; some of the stereotypes were true, but on the whole the Home Guard increasingly performed as a parallel force to the regular army. The pocket-book 'pulled no punches' in the advice it gave to its members: '...our only excuse for existence is to look out for Germans and to help the military to kill them or - better still - kill them ourselves'.

Saturday 9 July 2011

The politics of decency

We want our political leaders to be decent men and women; at least I think we do. I try not to post many links in this blog, but this video from last night's Newsnight programme of Steve Coogan speaking on 'political decency' is worth watching: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14090499

I care nothing for the News of the World, but the really interesting issue in this scandal is the extent to which it will damage David Cameron. So far Cameron has successfully portrayed himself as essentially 'decent'. However his appointment of Andy Coulson (and therefore his clear connection to the phone hacking scandal) as his communications chief maybe the start of his downfall. If Coulson is found to be involved in phone hacking (and even imprisoned) then Cameron will have some serious questions to answer.

Why would a 'decent' prime minister pick the editor of the News of the World to be his communications chief? I only ask.

Thursday 7 July 2011

Images of war

I have been to the Imperial War Museum in Salford on many occasions. It is a stunning building that is designed to make one feel uncomfortable and disorientated: the floor rises and falls, the angles everywhere are unexpected, the viewing platform with a vista across Manchester is built in a manner to disturb. War, after all, does all of these things.

I have sometimes felt that the building over shadows the collections. However today there were two new exhibits that  added to my sense of discomfiture. The first was the mangled wreckage of a car that had contained a bomb; it had gone off in Baghdad and presumably killed innocent people. The second was a piece of art work that portrayed a city in ruins after a bombing attack. Neither were easy pieces to view.


This piece of artwork is hanging from the roof of the museum.

Sunday 3 July 2011

Flint Castle

This week my son has walked across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and my daughter has travelled in Poland to Krakow and Auschwitz. Not to be out-done, yesterday I cycled to Flint Castle.

Flint Castle in technicolor.
In fact Shakespeare sets a scene in his play 'Richard II' at Flint Castle; which is more than you can say for the Golden Gate Bridge.

Saturday 2 July 2011

My football team - 1976 style

I came across this photograph of the Holywell High School Year 1 (7 in new money) 'B' football team from 1976. The photograph is taken on the hallowed turf of the pitch we called 'little Wembley'. I can remember a few of faces, but by no means all after 35 years. In fact there is only one in the photograph that I am in contact with via Facebook (do you remember this Pete?). I am sad to say that I have not played football in many years; although I do wear my blue shirt to Everton home games hoping that David Moyes will recognise my genius from the 'B' team games in the 70s and ask me to partner Louis Saha up front. Ah, the stuff of dreams!

Holywell High School first year 'B' team of 1976.

Friday 1 July 2011

David Hanson and political memorabilia.

David Hanson is our MP, but he is also an avid collector of political memorabilia. This ranges from political pamphlets and posters to pottery inspired by the great politicians of the last two centuries. Tonight David Hanson gave an excellent talk to the Caerwys Historical Society on his collection in general, as well as identifying around ten objects that had a specific resonance for him. The ten objects had a common thread leading from a medal struck to commemorate the mass protest in favour of male suffrage organised by the Reform League in Hyde Park in 1866, through to minutes of a meeting that led to the founding of the Labour Party. David Hanson's final political object was a piece of the House of Commons itself! This was a piece of masonry left after the Commons had been bombed during Hitler's war in the early 1940s.

The evening showed how objects can bring history to life; for me it was a real treat to see the huge array of political memorabilia. I certainly hope that David Hanson will agree to do another talk to the Caerwys Historical Society on other aspects of his remarkable collection.

David Hanson MP with an election poster from the 1860s.

The late Robin Cook and a rather small John Major.

Political mugs.