Random Thought……

Just come back from a train trip to The Czech Republic and whilst waiting in Brussels for connection I was sat listening to the train announcements on the Tannoy.

It occurred to me that as the announcer had to speak in French and Flemish he was essentially doing twice the work that any other announcer would do in other countries around Europe.

Does this mean that the announcers in Belgium get paid double time?

Or maybe work half the hours?

Or even retire early?

If not, I reckon that they are getting a bit of a rum deal.

Haiku 3

Haiku – how do we get there………….?

Thing is about Haiku that I find is that you cannot just force it out. Young kids seem to get the hang of it pretty quick and write some great poems. At the end of the day they have a refreshing naivety, no preconceptions as to what looks good, nor a deep-rooted fear of failure. What effectively is a combination a blank canvas, a clean slate and a clear conscience gives kids the edge when writing haiku, and I say good luck to them!

In addition, it is worth remembering that constructing Haiku mechanically just does not work, although it helps to know the rules. The site linked here is a really good place to start – not quite a Sheldon Brown production, but it is a really useful base camp on the trek up the mountain to find that pinnacle that is “a decent poem”.

Link to Haiku Base Camp

And when you lack inspiration you can always get it from here – a blog that publishes a poem a day.

Link to “a poem a day”

Box of vinyl…………..(2)

There are a few bad ‘uns in this box of 45’s, yet there are a few classics.

Probably my all time number 1 is this one. The video to this is pretty cheesey – click on the image below to view it.

The Naval Volunteer in King Street was one of the first pubs in Bristol to have a video jukebox and good old Marvin was on there along with the Ramones – Teenage Lobotomy and Billy Idol – White Wedding.

Tears…..

Noooooo! Not them!

You know when people weep when they see a piece of art that is so beautiful?

People cry at the opera or ballet because they are moved so much?

Well I am welling up here.

I failed in an e-bay auction to get this frame

and I see someone has transformed a similar frame to this object d’art

All I did was cry……….

Well it had to be done……

Not quite the top shelf porn mag – ‘reader’s wives’ sort of thing, but you catch the drift.

I have got my bike aka The Paper Shop Cruiser up loaded and published on “velospace”

Proper Job!

What a website that is – some absolutely stunning things in there. Forget Playboy! Go to www.velospace.org

I could spend hours looking at some of those pictures of some lovely machines.

CHECK THE LINK HERE

Box of vinyl………….(1)

The youngsters amongst you – ie those sub 35 year olds may not have a vinyl collection. I think my albums went West when I went and spent time out of the country for a while. The box of 33 rpms got raped and pillaged by my sister I think.

However I found a box of 45’s in my new home that were in fact my own discs – they have stuck to me like glue it seems. A collection of about 50 singles that must have been in storage and somehow stayed in my possession.

So here are a few examples that I will air digitally over the next few weeks and months.

Click on the picture to hear the song.

Notes to one’s self

I need to still get these off my chest:

Arthur and The Chair

Dave and Daffodil Bulbs

Paresh and the rag

Captain and the park bench

Bruce’s Mum and the East German police station

CJ and the Boat

Ukuleles

Work experience South Shropshire 2003

The List

Berlin pub/club guide 1989

Pies

Those were the days Part 11a

Laaaaaads! – a stock phrase of Bernie’s, so much so that it was mimicked by a lot of the boys he taught. Could be compared with the Estuary English vernacular phrase of “innit!” and used in a similar way particularly at the end of a sentence.

Have a good ‘un! – Bernie says this in a lot of ways, just in terms of its altering its length and intonation Bernie can imply a different meaning.  He can say it glibly, in a very curt manor as a response to something that he agrees with or a piece of news that comes as no surprise – a sort of “told you so”. Conversely a long drawn out and slow exclamation can be translated as “Oh, my, God….” in certain situations

All staff that he played football with were called by their surnames with an “o” at the end of it eg Paul Simpson was Simpo, I was Morgo, the head of Music Judith Bridges was Bridgo. The only exception to this golden rule was the Head of Sixth Form, Brian Roberts was not Robbo, but Shergar based on his first appearance for the staff football team!

Luv – most women in authority were treated with this term of address which poor old Bernie thought was his way of being respectful. I remember an INSET day session where we instructed by a power dressed expert on assessment or some such for about half an hour. When the Q&A session started good old Bernie put his hand up and said “Right then Luv, I have a question about ….” You could see her bristle at the way she was addressed but good old Bernie did not see the signals. He used this term of familiarity a few more times and each time it made everyone in the room wince.

Listen!……….. This was often a long drawn out exclamation as he used to get pissed off that you were not paying him much attention. Bernie spouts so much garbage though that nobody listens to him!

The following trio were used a lot during PE lessons when he used to join kids 5 a-side games, to which he used to provide a running commentary

Don’t Move! – This was shouted out to a kid on the other side of the pitch who he tried to spray a pass to.  Something like David Beckham would do. He had about a 50% success rate at completing the pass!

Done him! – a shout of glee as he would gallop past a kid with the ball at his feet.  Not quite Brian Glover, but you get the drift!

Next Goal wins! – always a kids favourite this one, especially when his team was 7-3 down at the time!

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Know it all

 

Having been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease over six years ago now I remember phoning up Andy to tell him about this bizarre coincidence. On telling Andy the news all I could hear was him say “Oh Sam, no…..” softly down the line. Now having been put out to grass a few years later I am beginning not to get bitter and twisted per se. But this post of his is becoming a statement with a sentiment that resonates more with me these days.

I still say keep on rockin’ and a rollin’ though Brother – till the next Iggy Pop gig and all that!

  CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT I AM ON ABOUT – Know it all.