Saturday 29 October 2011

Everton 0 Manchester United 1

A mid-day kick off might have been partly to blame for the unusually subdued atmosphere inside Goodison Park today. However, I sensed, amongst the Everton supporters, a real sense of foreboding at what this match might bring. United had been hammered by six goals to one last weekend, and a backlash was predicted. It did not happen, and despite the score Everton more than matched United. In fact a draw would have been a fair outcome. Everton had plenty of chances, but their shooting was generally weak, with only Baines' free kick against the bar managing to beat the United keeper. 

Therefore Everton go into November with only ten points, and sit uncomfortably close to the relegation places. It is usually said that 40 points is required to avoid the drop, but that looks a long way off at present. The next month will be crucial to the future of the club.


Everton lay siege to the United goal; nothing would come of it.

Friday 28 October 2011

Fighting the flab: an up-date.

The most popular blog I ever did was on an up-date to my super diet. To re-cap, I have been following the regime set by the program: myfitnesspal.com. It has suited my lifestyle, and so far in less than 150 days I have lost some 63 lb.

Each day, as I have said before, the program gives me the allotted number of calories that I can consume; the lighter one gets the fewer calories are available - I started on 2200 per day, so the present total of 1800 is not easy. In W.H.Smiths today I cast my eyes along the magazines aimed at the women's diet market. They all seem to follow a similar format; offering so many reasons to buy that particular magazine, such as ''10 ways to shed those pounds for xmas", or "25 ways to achieve the body you always wanted". The examples are endless, and all equally depressing.

However, not to be out-done, I will offer my own version of how to get rid of unwanted weight. Feel free to ignore this - it is merely  my experience since May based upon myfitnesspal.com:
  • losing weight is simple: eat less, exercise more; weight watchers and slimming word have invented complex means of achieving the same outcome
  • dieting  is painful, so find foods that offer the same buzz without calories: I recommend the following
  1. diet coke or pepsi max
  2. strong coffee
  3. nice tea
  4. gin and diet tonic
  5. vodka and diet tonic
  6. low fat yoghurts
  7. crunchie bars
  8. iced buns
  9. fruit pastilles
  10. various fruit juice based lolly ices
  • exercise: I have cycled endlessly and this has gained me extra calories when I have needed it
  • be honest with myfitnesspal.com; If anything I underestimate what I have eaten
  • take vitamin supplements - it will help your body maintain resistance against bugs
  • avoid buffets
So there it is: follow this advice for the body you have always wanted. That is, of course, nonsense, but losing some weight can only help one feel better.  I feel physically fitter than I have done for 20 years, but losing weight is a bit like seeking gold at end of the rainbow.


Thursday 27 October 2011

Everton 1 Chelsea 2 (after extra time)

Baines lines up to take Everton's penalty kick - it was saved.

The penalty was only one of several incidents that made this a pulsating Carling League Cup game to watch. Chelsea also missed a penalty; there were even two players sent off. That is not to forget three decent goals and the nerve-wracking period of extra time. At least it did not go down to penalties.

For us Everton fans it proved ultimately to be another evening of frustration. Over the game Chelsea probably just deserved the win, but Everton had plenty of chances, and at times truly dominated the play. Yet at this level of football if chances are not taken then one cannot complain that results don't 'go your way'. Rather like life itself, I imagine.

During the game I kept a close eye on Everton's new 'on-loan' signing from Real Madrid, Royston Drenthe.  I am not sure what to make of him: he appears to be one of the most athletic players around - his pace is very impressive. No one can doubt his commitment to the cause; he makes things happen with some outrageous skill and shooting from distance. However there is another side to his game: his passing is poor, often resulting in significant advantage for the opponents. I was trying to think of a word to describe him, and the best I can do is mercurial;  this volatility was in evidence towards the end of the game when he was given a red card for a dangerous tackle.

Monday 24 October 2011

Disillusioned (but in a good way).

In the Caerwys civic service held yesterday at St Michael's church the new Rector gave an excellent sermon, in part of which he reflected upon disillusionment with our elected politicians. He cleverly turned the word upside down by arguing that 'disillusionment' was a positive state of mind, especially as the opposite is to be under an 'illusion'. So being disillusioned allows one to view the world in a more realistic way, especially in terms of civil government. So next time I hear someone say they are disillusioned, I will quietly think to myself: 'that is all well and good'.

Sunday 23 October 2011

Westminster politicians

The following is a direct quote from Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, at their annual conference yesterday:
"The days of Westminster politicians telling Scotland what to do or what to think are over. "The Scottish people will set the agenda for the future."
What the Scots decide to do is pretty much up to them, but the phrase 'Westminster politicians' is disingenuous and part of  nationalist propaganda. In fact there is only ONE Westminster politician, and I just googled to find out who it is; the answer is Mark Field (Conservative, since you ask). Why does Alex Salmond so fear this single Tory MP? He does not, of course, it is merely sneaky  (but dangerous) nationalist propaganda to create division and fear. I have heard the right wing 'Tea Party' movement in the USA refer to 'Washington politicians'; they really mean they hate Obama. What does Salmond really mean?

All the other 600 nor so MPs represent areas other than Westminster, from Truro to Aberdeen (in Scotland, oddly enough). All of them democratically elected.  Alex Salmond uses the term 'Westminster politicians' in a derogatory sense to further the cause of Scottish separation from the UK. In doing so he debases his cause by deploying the language of fear. It may turn out to be a risky political game to play.



Modern art.

For me modern art is a bit like jazz: I know I should like it, but no matter how hard I try I don't. Anyway, I am not qualified to write about modern art or jazz, but in Theatr Clwyd the other evening in the exhibition area I spotted this painting - my apologies for the poor quality of the photograph, but you will get the idea:

Let me help by describing this piece in detail: a black canvass with a white horizontal smudge. I was instantly intrigued with this image, and then even more so when I noted the sale price at over fifteen hundred pounds. I suppose the artist might say that piece has caught my attention more than a 'chocolate box' image ever would, and has led me to write this blog. Therefore the art works. They may have a point.



Saturday 22 October 2011

The Clwyd Gate Audax

Two weeks ago I struggled to complete the Shropshire Lad audax; rashly, despite the pain of the Salopian hills, I entered another ride, which took place today. This event was longer and hillier than the Shropshire ride, but I had a plan.Today's challenge was 138km and involved climbing well over 7000 feet, in other words up Snowdon twice. In Shropshire I tried to do the cycle and maintain the diet regime, today I tried to balance input and output. I sought advice from friends that do endurance events; as a result of their advice I filled my pockets with jelly babies and my bottles with flat coca cola.

It worked. The ride turned out to be one of my successful bicycling adventures. The first leg followed the River Dee towards Llangollen and ended with a climb up the horseshoe; no problem - I flew up to the Ponderosa Cafe. The next stage was down to Llanarmon yn Ial and on to Ruthin, again I had wind in my wheels, as they say. From Ruthin it was up the vale of Clwyd to Tremeichion and next along the hidden valleys around Bontnwyedd. Then to Abergele for chips. The final section was the toughest with around 32km of climbing up to the Brenig resevoir, and I did struggle here for a short time, before the jelly babies came to the rescue. The last 20 km were down hill to Corwen and the car. All in all it was a great bike ride on a perfect October day.




Friday 21 October 2011

Animal Farm.

The current production of Animal Farm at Theatr Clwyd is well worth catching. The set is hugely impressive; in the end it reminded me of a piece of Bolshevik art - which I suspect was the intention. The actors as animals was inventive and worth the admission price to see.

I do have a reservation. It is presented as a musical. The songs are not especially memorable, but that is not vital. My point being that a 'political novel' made into a musical has to be a risk. It risks trivialising supremely important themes. I saw Ibsen's Enemy of the People done in the same theatre and recall being far more affected. I even heard someone speculate whether Schindler's List could be adapted as a musical. Animal Farm almost becomes Old MacDonald.

This should not de-value this polished production. The quality of productions in Theatr Clwyd are beyond reproach and we are unbelievably lucky having a theatre of this quality on our doorsteps. Basically, see everything! It is just the political part of me wants these issues dealt with more seriously.



Sunday 16 October 2011

Occupy

The anti-capitalist movement 'occupy' is gaining momentum; throughout the world people are occupying areas of our great cities associated with finance, from Wall St to the City of London. The occupy movement has its roots in Spain, where youth unemployment is at astronomic levels. They have my full sympathy; speculative capitalism has failed. No wonder the people are angry. However, I hope it wont be like the referee in the football and rugby matches I have recently written about. In those blogs I claimed that the incident might divert attention from the true cause of defeat, missed penalty kicks or reckless tackles and so on. The banks and financial institutions are only the 'incident', part of the system if you like. During the good years we were only too glad to benefit from 'cheap money'. How many of us took out loans? How many saved? Exactly. So while the protests are well-intentioned and in the right direction, I hope they will appreciate that it is finance capitalism that needs changing. We the people must make our elected governments prevent banks from gambling with our money; and that must be only the start. Free markets certainly create wealth, but so many markets are not free. They are tilted in favour of the rich and powerful. Radicalism is in the air.

'RS' again.

With the on-going angst following Wales' exit from the rugby world cup, and my recent flirtation with the poetry of that curmudgeonly R.S.Thomas, I would like to post a link to another of his creations. This time a poem entitled 'Welsh Landscape' in which the lines 'There is no present in Wales, No future, Only the past brittle with relics' are read by 'RS' himself.

The sentiments of this poem match the despair of those that hoped for victory against France. However, the powerful words of this most gifted anglo-welsh poet should not be used by Welsh people today. The future must not be that which 'RS' predicted with such beautiful but melancholy tones. Rugby, after all, is only a game.

Listen to the priceless words of R.S.Thomas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb8mK3Ccsl0

Saturday 15 October 2011

R.S.Thomas: a new view for me

This morning I went to a mini lecture on the Anglo-Welsh poet R.S.Thomas. For reasons I cannot accurately recall, I was prepared to dislike his work. From what I knew of 'RS' he was a cantankerous old man with little positive to say about modern Wales; indeed he appeared to dislike so much about modernity that I largely ignored his poems. Further I resented his regret at being an 'Anglo-Welsh' poet - I sense he would have preferred to write in Welsh. Which is all well and good, but regretting that is to regret what a majority of his countrymen and women have - the English language as their mother tongue. Anyway, the lecture this morning forced me to look again; we were introduced to the poems written by 'RS' after the death of his wife in the early 1990s. They were truly moving. I have searched on You Tube for a reading that can give an indication of the power of his poetry and this is the best I can do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TaedssoNfE&feature=related

The unbearable cruelty of sport.

Today Wales lost to France in the semi-final of the rugby world cup. The sense of anguish and despair across the the land is almost palpable. Two weeks Everton lost to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby; I am only just getting over that disappointment. Apart from the experience of loss, both games had something else in common - a bitter sense of injustice. In the Wales game Sam Warburton was sent off for an alleged dangerous tackle:
A dangerous tackle and the referee send Warburton off and ended Wales' hope of defeating France.
In the Merseyside derby a similar incident took place when after just 17 minutes Jack Rodwell was shown red for an alleged reckless tackle on the Liverpool midfield player Suarez. As can be seen from this photograph, Rodwell was incredulous, and the television replay later showed he had played the ball fairly:

Rodwell saw red.


The point being made is that in each case it appears that vital games have been decided by poor refereeing decisions. The sense of injustice felt by the supporters of each team (Wales and Everton in this case) will last for years; it will become part of the folklore of these sports.

Winning really matters. Reason hardly comes into it; the supporters in both cases cannot take a broad view of the game, rather that the incident (here Rodwell and Warburton) explains everything. The incident becomes the reason for failure.

Yet a rational evaluation points to a different view of these events. Rodwell showed lack of experience making such a lunging tackle, and other Everton players committed worse offences without receiving cautions of any kind. Warburton (as can be seen from the photograph) tackled the French player in the air, which is strictly forbidden as it can lead to horrendous injuries. The referee (who I hope does not have a Facebook account with Welsh friends on it) was merely protecting the life and limb of professional sportsmen.

So a different interpretation is possible in both of these high profile sporting events. Nevertheless, the desperate disappointment - the unbearable cruelty of sport - is masked if one can find an excuse or reason for failure.

A bit like Hogwarts.

In other parts of this blog I have reflected reflected upon my time at Bangor during the 1980s. Today I took my daughter to the open day at the university, and in particular to the English department. I was thoroughly impressed. There has been massive investment in the university, both in the halls of residence (which can hardly be bettered anywhere else), and the teaching areas. The new students' union building and arts centre open next year and together they will place Bangor University in the forefront of higher education provision in Wales. However, despite the new developments, it is the old Top College building that still dominates the city. Top College, now well over 100 years old, apes the oxbridge architecture being based around 'quads'. The library at Top College is still inspiring and continues to motivate students to higher things. The Shankland Room is perhaps the best example; earlier today I popped in and took this snap.

A bit like Hogwarts.





Friday 14 October 2011

Politics and me

I spend my life teaching politics. I am entirely positive about politics and politicians; I always say that the alternative to politics is chaos, where bad people will abuse their power and we will all suffer. In addition, I have the greatest respect for politicians. They give a great deal and dedicate their lives to public service; I could not do it. Yet two pieces of news this week about our senior politicians are beyond my comprehension. First Dr Liam Fox. Whatever what might think of Fox he had achieved a serious Cabinet post, one with huge responsibility. Having achieved such a status why did he risk it with such an obviously dubious friendship. Did nobody warn him? What went wrong? Then there was Oliver Letwin doing his work in the park and then blithely dumping papers and letters in the nearest bin. Apparently they were not top secret (merely letters from constituents and the like), but even so it is hardly what one might expect. I find both of these events hard to explain to those eager to learn about politics. However, I suppose it does add spice to the soap opera that is our government; yet to my mind this is serious and  both of these men have brought politics into disrepute.

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Caerwys and the Great War

I gave a talk yesterday evening to the Caerwys WI on life in the town during the Great War. As the 100th anniversary of the war rapidly approaches it may become a topic that interests more and more people. I appreciated the chance to share my research and thoughts on the impact of the war on this small Welsh community. The talk was accompanied by some of the well-known images of the period from 'Caerwys Since Victorian Times' book. I ended by reading some extracts from the diary of the teenage William Herbert Lloyd of Hyfrydle, Caerwys. Lloyd kept his diary in 1916 and it provides a fascinating insight into life in the town during those tumultuous years. The diary has added poignancy as Lloyd, who became eighteen before the war ended, was called up to serve in France. Tragically he was killed just weeks before the armistice. The talk appropriately took place in the Memorial Institute - a building erected to commemorate those that did not return to Caerwys after the war. William Herbert Lloyd's name is on a stone plaque near the entrance doors.

William Herbert Lloyd

Saturday 8 October 2011

A Shropshire lad's audax

Audax UK is the organisation that controls long distance cycling: audax uk
 I have been a member for many years, but this has primarily involved reading their excellent magazine (Arrivee) that describes the derring-do activities of those that cycle remarkably long distances. In my years as a member I have actually completed 23 events, and failed to finish a few others (most famously I packed after 190km of a 205km event due to the combination of exhaustion and the eating of too many Refresher sweets). Today I added another to my list when I rode 100km in Shropshire.

The definition of a 'long distance' event is not precise; but if they are shorter than 100km it is because they are very hilly. My event today was called the 'Shropshire Lad' and sub-titled 'The Land of Lost Content'; for added realism the Marshall at the half way point was reading a collection of Houseman's poems. There are no better counties for cycling in than Shropshire (except for Flintshire, obviously). The ride followed the direction of the Wenlock Edge hills as far as Acton Scott - the farm used for the TV series Victorian farm. Audax riding involves following a pre-set route in a given time; in this we partly failed as a group of riders mistakenly relied on one who professed local knowledge, this error led to a steep climb over Wenlock Edge, and then and even steeper one back again, thereby adding at least an hour to the ride.

The ride ended on the flat lands around the River Severn and very impressive Attingham Park National Trust property. Being much lighter than on previous Audax events I had hoped to find the hilly sections of the ride easier, but it was not noticeable. Before such rides I need to eat a bit more. So overall an excellent day.

A montage of my completed Audax cards; each one tells a story and not one was easy.

Sunday 2 October 2011

A year of inconsequential blogging

This weekend marks the first anniversary of my Blog. I had no idea of how it would develop, or what I would find to write about. Yet in the last twelve months I have written nearly 200 entries, and had almost 12,000 views. I have approached the Blog as though I were writing a series of postcards, with pictures whenever possible. I have tried to avoid putting in internet links; facebook and twitter seem to be the place for that.

Looking back over the year I think that many of the Blogs are nonsense, however I am pleased with a small number of them. My favourite individual blog was from back in January when I wrote a piece entitled 'Aw Bless' in which I criticised the current Boots the Chemist advert for being flippant about men's health. A close second favourite was one from June based upon a news report that I came across on my great grandfather's funeral.

Taken together, they represent a reasonable summary of my life in the last year. Rest assured, I will continue to Blog for a little while yet. 

Gwyl Famau 2011: Cor Meibion Caerwys

Last evening at a concert held  in Capal Gad Cilcain, Cor Meibion Caerwys performed for the first time under the direction of Ruth Evans. It proved to be a great success. The concert was part of the Gwyl Famau festival: http://www.gwylfama.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57%3Aprogramme-of-events-2011&Itemid=27&lang=en
There is a real sense that future of the choir is moving in a positive direction after the turbulence of recent times. 

Saturday 1 October 2011

Everton 0 Liverpool 2

I had been looking forward to this game all week; the pre-match build up was amazing, and as the Everton team took to the field the roar was deafening. For the first twenty minutes all went according to plan. Then Jack Rodwell got sent off for an inoffensive tackle on Luis Suarez, the Liverpool attacking player. Suarez is a man of immense talent, but he lacks sportsmanship. He fell to the ground and rolled around in agony, enough to convince the referee that Rodwell should get the red card. In reality the dismissal of Rodwell meant that Everton could not win and despite desperate defence it was inevitable that Liverpool would eventually score. Suarez was, inevitably, one of the goal scorers. The mood of the fans soured; it had all turned on a poor referring decision. The post match comments on the radio compared football to rugby where a 'video' referee would help make key decisions. It maybe the way forward, but football is such a fast game that the constant halting of the action might not be acceptable. However, it might have prevented the ruin of a big game on Merseyside today.

My view of the action; it was one of the warmest October days ever recorded with the temperature around 26 degrees.