tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128397372024-03-23T17:54:22.711+00:00The best of allSome of John wesley's last words were "the best of all God is with us", which I think are truely wonderful.
This blog is probably rather dull, it's about me and stuff I like, music and books and such likemooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.comBlogger453125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-43207026239875209002011-01-19T10:19:00.002+00:002011-01-19T10:25:29.317+00:00Questions over statin prescribingThis drug is always in and out of the news, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12224312">questions have been raised over their effectiveness in healthy people</a>. I blogged about this <a href="http://chrisiddon.blogspot.com/2006/03/statins.html">5 years ago</a> when they became available over the counter. In fact I'd argue that for people without famialial hypercholesteroleamia they will result in an increase in cholesterol upon ceasing to use the drug.<br />So if you want to really know and understand the benefits of statins I'd suggest reading my <a href="http://chrisiddon.blogspot.com/2006/03/statins.html">earlier post</a>mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-88814920722637572232010-11-24T12:03:00.003+00:002010-11-24T14:15:14.550+00:00BBC Book ListHmmm much fun, though I should be doing more productive things<br /><br />"The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books listed here. Instructions: Copy this into your NOTES. Bold those books you've read in their entirety, italicize the ones you started but didn't finish or read an excerpt."<br /><br />1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen<br /><i>2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien</i><br />3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte<br /><b>4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling </b><br />5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee<br /><i>6 The Bible</i><br /><b>7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte</b><br /><b>8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell</b><br />9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman<br /><i>10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens</i><br /><i>11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott</i><br />12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy<br />13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller<br /><i>14 Complete Works of Shakespeare</i><br />15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier<br /><b>16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien</b><br />17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks<br /><b>18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger</b><br />19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger<br />20 Middlemarch - George Eliot<br />21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell<br />22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald<br />23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens<br />24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy<br /><b>25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams</b><br />26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh<br /><b>27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky</b><br />28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck<br /><b>29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll</b><br />30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame<br />31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy<br /><i>32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens</i><br /><b>33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis</b><br />34 Emma - Jane Austen<br />35 Persuasion - Jane Austen<br /><b>36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis</b><br />37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini<br />38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres<br />39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden<br /><b>40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne</b><br /><b>41 Animal Farm - George Orwell</b><br /><b>42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown</b><br />43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez<br />44 A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving<br />45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins<br />46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery<br />47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy<br />48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood<br /><i>49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding</i><br />50 Atonement - Ian McEwan<br /><b>51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel</b><br />52 Dune - Frank Herbert<br />53Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons<br />54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen<br />55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth<br />56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon<br />57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens<br />58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley<br /><b>59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon</b><br />60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez<br /><b>61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck</b><br />62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov<br />63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt<br /><b>64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold</b><br />65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas<br /><b>66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac</b><br />67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy<br />68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding<br /><b>69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie</b><br /><i>70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville</i><br />71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens<br />72 Dracula - Bram Stoker<br /><b>73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett</b><br />74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson<br />75 Ulysses - James Joyce<br />76 The Inferno - Dante<br />77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome<br />78 Germinal - Emile Zola<br />79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray<br />80 Possession - AS Byatt<br /><b>81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens</b><br /><b>82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell</b><br />83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker<br />84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro<br />85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert<br />86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry<br />87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White<br />88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom<br />89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle<br /><b>90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton</b><br />91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad<br />92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery<br />93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks<br /><b>94 Watership Down - Richard Adams</b><br />95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole<br />96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute<br />97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas<br />98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare<br /><b> 99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factoy - Roald Dahl</b><br />100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo<div><br /></div><div>read 25 and partially read or read abridged versions of another 8</div>mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-10245312240046828712010-09-13T19:35:00.001+00:002010-09-13T19:41:40.980+00:00Learn to speak chinese onlineJust come across a great new podcast to help me learn how to pronounce words in mandarin chinese. Check it out for an introduction to pinyin. I'm looking forward to being able to learn mandarin chinese online following this course. <center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/34b12yLOhKI?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/34b12yLOhKI?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><P><br /><a href="http://weilaienterprises.blogspot.com/2010/09/learn-to-speak-chinese-online.html">weilaienterprises.blogspot.com</a><br />i think the teacher is cute :) and danni agrees<br /><P>btw the rest of my greenbelt review will follow soon....mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-41939993289182732342010-09-01T17:02:00.005+00:002010-09-01T18:16:27.245+00:00Greenbelt 2010 reviewI love <a href="http://www.greenbelt.org.uk">greenbelt</a>, there is always so much to inspire and this year was no exception. The drive down was great and was punctuated with the now traditional stop at <a href="http://www.motorwayservices.info/area.php?area=125">strensham services</a> for a bite to eat before joining the queues at GB. The wristband was adorned and we moved from one holding queue to another, which included a perplexing and frustrating journey as car after car in front of me seemed to be stopping for an in depth conversation with the steward. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/4945552297/" title="IMG_5043 by iddonsheffield, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4945552297_cd33c67d5e_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_5043" img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0" /></a>Surely it was obvious you just went in the direction they were pointing without the need for winding down the window and checking that they had understood the direction of pointing was towards the next illuminous jacket adorned steward. But that seemed to be exactly what was being discussed, with that or it was some confused punters looking for the Reading festival. Eventually we were onto the campsite and began pitching the tent to be followed by festival guide procrastination and a stir fry. The stir fry has become the staple first meal of greenbelt and is usually delicious as the ingredients are still fresh. And then it's time for the festival to begin. I started with a talk by <a href="http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/">Richard Rohr</a> on the art of looking sideways at the bible. It was fairly informative re-asserting the need to re-read the bible with different coloured glasses (symbolic, cultural, eschatological and historical to name a few) and to recognise that our reading is steeped in our own culture and experience. A reminder that arguing over the meaning of greek words to fully understand what Christ was saying is, in a way, futile, as Christ didn't even speak greek. What was fascinating was the idea around contemplative thinking as opposed to dualistic thinking. Dualistic thinking being the kind of way of assessing if something does not fit x then it is y. Language has developed in a dualistic way - tall and short for example. But then when you think about it, tall and short are relative and it's not that straight forward. Apparently dualistic thinking cannot be applied to love, death, god, suffering or the infinite. Which kinda of makes sense, but what contemplative thinking actually is I am none the wiser, but i think i need to go and try it out. I didn't get <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/4946145174/" title="IMG_5051 by iddonsheffield, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4946145174_8b5fae7cb5_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="IMG_5051" img style="float:right; margin:10px 0px 10px 10px"/></a>to any of Richard's other talks as i guessed they would be much of a muchness. Followed this talk with a decision to investigate <a href="http://www.ziczazou.com/">zic zazou</a> at the centaur, purely based on the fact that the picture in the GB guide looked interesting. Whilst queuing it began to drizzle and the setting sun cast a wonderful rainbow over the festival towards the camping area. People clambered for their cameras and pretty much everyone at GB will have taken a picture of this beautiful image. The only disappointment was a lack of pot of gold in my tent when i returned. Zic Zazou were a kind of stomp style theatre making music from borrowed items and 'apparent junk'. Quite good fun, and every time i was just beginning to tire then they would re-awaken my interest with sounds from the most unlikely of places. <br />My first night's sleep was punctuated with snaps of wakefulness as my body revealed it was actually freezing and i began to re-assess my choice of a one season sleeping bag with added blanket. Despite the depths of cold the sleeping bag claimed to remain comfortable i conclude that the one season for which it is fit is summer, inside a house. Not inside a tent. Despite my erratic sleep i was up bright and early to see the start of a beautiful day. Had a good wander around the festival village before setting out my camping blanket at the grandstand to listen to <a href="http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/?a=913">Mark Yaconelli</a>, he had a great story telling ability and i was engrossed in his story about meeting his wife and then the warm sun took hold and i drifted in and out of sleep. But that didn't matter, i was enjoying the atmosphere. Then at 1pm there were literally one million things i wanted to do, beer and hymns, martyn atkins, keith skene. In the end i opted for engage worship to see if i could pick up any ideas for <a href="http://www.crookesvalley.co.uk">cvm</a>. It was ok, but nothing new was greatly learned, apart from the fact that there seemed to be a great interest in 'doing church' differently. Particularly with regard to making the experience more open to participation and dialogue. Something we have been doing successfuly at <a href="http://www.crookesvalley.co.uk">cvm</a> for some time. A quick dash to the underground for 10 minutes of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/100philistineforeskins">100 philistine foreskins</a> who are truly awesome. Probably one of my musical highlights of the festival. A raucous racket which had people charging for the exits and pleading to be let out whilst sweaty teenage boys crashed into each other with shoes flying overhead. I would've loved to have stayed longer but another clash was coming up, but i was there long enough to hear the lead singer say how amazed he was that anyone had turned up at all to listen to them. The bass player added it was like people buying broken things on ebay. We left after a passionate anti-bnp poem. the raw energy of this band and the amusing between track banter would have me put these on the mainstage. It would be a riot!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/4945569613/" title="IMG_5062 by iddonsheffield, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/4945569613_3c17b97293_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="IMG_5062" img style="float:left; margin:10px 10px 10px 0"/></a>Late afternoon we went to see <a href="http://www.lourhodes.com/">Lou Rhodes</a>, i was a big fan of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/lambofficial">lamb</a> and was relishing the opportunity to hear her solo stuff. The venue was running late and she was on later than billed, however it was worth the wait. Pleasant folk musings, though i really missed the erratic beats and trip hop feel of lamb. <br />The music line up this year hadn't really grabbed me, and although the festival is so much more than the music, over the years i have always enjoyed going to see something on the mainstage. This year the biggest name seemed to be shed seven who were appearing on saturday night. I have fond memories of dancing to their tunes at indie discos in the past and so was quite looking forward to it. However they never really seemed to ignite the crowd, perhaps as the majority of the eager teenagers at the front had never heard of them. Without a particularly strong stage presence there wasn't really anything to get excited about, and as the tunes played i began to realise why i had only ever danced to them at discos and never gone out my way to purchase any of their material. more later i guess, more images are on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/sets/72157624851381354/">flickr</a>mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-86393521104048404322010-08-12T11:56:00.002+00:002010-08-12T12:00:43.505+00:00Chinese cultural awareness and mandarinWe have also just started a blog to update news regarding <a href="http://www.weilaienterprises.co.uk">wei lai enterprises</a>. This blog can be found at <a href="http://weilaienterprises.blogspot.com">http://weilaienterprises.blogspot.com</a>. So any requirements for chinese cultural awareness courses or mandarin interpretation, translation or tutor services in the yorkshire area, especially sheffield, this is the place to look.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-46664590132348711182010-07-28T17:27:00.003+00:002010-07-28T17:31:28.662+00:00wei lai enterprisesI've recently been helping danni set up a company as a vehicle to utilise her talents. We have just finished our the web site for the company which is <a href="http://www.weilaienterprises.co.uk/">http://www.weilaienterprises.co.uk</a>. I think it looks pretty smart. Working for yourself must have some advantages, like using your own skills for your own benefit rather than for someone else. Let's see what the future holds, for wei lai is mandarin for future :)mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-17543932186593486902010-05-12T19:15:00.004+00:002010-05-12T19:23:05.896+00:00Election statsWell that was an eventful election. Stayed up to about 1230 watching the initial results come in, which was as pointless as ever. Sunderland results are never going to tell you anything leaving paxman and dimbleby to discuss pretty much nothing for hours attempting to make it sound valid. Jeremy Vine engulfed in his virtual house of commons trying desperately to extrapolate results from one constituency into a government. I got up again around 3am expecting results from sheffield but it seemed they weren't forthcoming, instead i endured the excitement of party leaders getting into a car, driving in a car and getting out of a car again. Gave up about 4:30 and got up again at 6:30 just in time to see nick clegg win his seat. <br />The best result of the night definately goes to <a href="www.carolinelucas.com">Caroline Lucas</a> winning a seat for the green party in brighton pavilion. I've heard her speak on numerous occasions and she is adept and focussed on raising the green agenda and will be an excellent addition to parliament. Disappointing to see UKIP and BNP in 4th and 5th position in terms of proportion of votes throughout the uk, though thankfully they didn't win a seat, it does show that there is a strong lean towards exclusive right wing policies from the electorate and this is something that still needs to be addressed.<br /><br />But what happened to Rod Rodgers in sheffield central? well unsurprisingly he didn't really make any impact, claiming only 40 votes. I think if i was a counter i would have been quite excited to have come across a ballot paper with a vote for him, it would feel like a golden ticket. Paul Scriven narrowly missed out to Paul Bloomfield, probably due to tactical voting from the anti-tory majority in sheffield. In the end a vote for LD would have been better to increase the left of centre proportion of a coalition government. <br /><br />Anyway, poor rod got me thinking, did he poll the lowest number of votes out of all the candidates nationally? Well thankfully the guardian have provided the entire results for all constituencies in downloadable format <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/may/07/uk-election-results-data-candidates-seats#data">here</a>. There were 16 people who returned fewer votes and outlined below is a series of interesting numerical data from the election<br /><br /><P><br /><h5>Who polled the least votes at the 2010 election</h5><br />This accolade goes to <a href="http://blueenvironmentparty.org/index.html">Godfrey Spickernell</a> who stood for the <a href="http://blueenvironmentparty.org/index.html">Blue Environment Party</a> in the Chelsea and Fulham constituency who polled just 17 votes. I feel a bit sorry for Godfrey, for unlike rod rodgers he has a website and appears to be able to spell and have policies that aren't completely off the wall<br /><br /><h5>who polled the most votes at the 2010 election</h5><br />This goes to <a href="http://www.stephentimms.org.uk/">Stephen Timms</a> standing for labour in east ham, polling over 70% of the constituency vote, 35,471 people voted for him. He is followed in second place by our new leader <a href="http://www.davidcameron.com/">mr cameron</a> who collected 33,973 votes, but only 59% of the vote. The top 50 candidates in terms of votes received are broken down as 32 seats for conservative, 5 seats for labour and 3 seats for the Lib Dems. Due to differences in constituency sizes and turnout this is not an entirely accurate measure of success so....<br /><br /><h5>who polled the most votes in terms of percentage of voters at the 2010 election</h5><br />When we analyse the results like this we get Labour candidate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Rotherham">Steve Rotherham</a> standing for liverpool walton as the most popular candidate with 71.96% of the vote, followed by Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein standing for Belfast West with 71.08%. Reviewing the top 50 most popular candidates in terms of votes we have 24 seats for labour, 22 seats for conservative, 2 seats for lib dem, one for Sinn fein and one for independent (<a href="http://www.sylviahermon.org/">Sylvia Hermon</a>, Down north - previously UUP but recently standing as an independent due to UUP alliance with the conservatives)<br /><br /><h5>which candidate got the most votes but didn't win a seat</h5><br />Somerton and Frome: <a href="http://www.annunziata.co.uk">Annunziata Rees-Mogg</a> received 26,976 votes and 44.51% of the vote for the conservatives but still lost the seat to <a href="http://www.davidheath.co.uk/">David Heath</a> of the lib dems who polled 28,793 votes 47.50%<br /><a href="http://www.rodneyconnor.co.uk/">Rodney Conner</a> standing for independent in Fermanagh and South Tyrone polled 45.51% of the vote (21,300) but still missed out on a seat to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Gildernew ">Michelle Gildernew</a> of Sinn Fein who polled 45.51% (21,304) a difference of just 4 votes which must've been the closest fought seat.<br /><br /><h5>which candidate polled the fewest votes to win their seat</h5><br /><a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/angus_macneil/na_h-eileanan_an_iar">Angus MacNeil</a> representing Scottish National Party polled just 6,723 votes to win the Na h-Eileanan an Iar seat, however this was 45.68% of the vote<br /><br /><h5>which candidate polled the smallest percentage of the vote to win their seat</h5><br /><a href="http://www.simonwright.org.uk/ ">Simon Wright</a> of the lib dems won Norwich South with 13,960 votes which represented 29.36% of the vote<br /><br /><h5>interesting numbers</h5><br /><h5>100 votes</h5><br />Haji Choudhury, independent - Bethnal Green and Bow<br />Margaret McMahon-Morris, Lawfulness Trustworthiness and Transparency - Great Yarmouth<br /><a href="http://www.paulswansborough.co.uk/">Paul Swansborough</a>, independent - Redditch<br />all polled exactly 100 votes<br /><br /><h5>1000 votes</h5><br /><a href="http://www.greensarecoming.org.uk/JoWillcott">Jo Willcott</a>, green - Norfolk South<br /><a href="http://billmanwaring.com/">Bill Manwaring</a>, UCUNF - Belfast West<br />all polled exactly 1000 votes<br /><br /><h5>Prime numbers</h5><br />There were 533 candidates who polled a prime number of votes, the largest prime number being Conservative candidate <a href="http://www.davidgauke.com/">David Gauke</a> of Hertfordshire South West who polled 30,773 votes<br /><br /><h5>other numbers that are interesting</h5><br /><a href="http://davidmcbride.org.uk/">David McBride</a> for Lib Dem Orpington polled 12,000 votes<br />Thomas Simpson for DUP Upper Bann polled 14,000 votes<br /><a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/andrew_robathan/blaby">Andrew Robathan</a> for conservatives Leicestershire South polled 27,000 votes<br /><br /><H5>candidate with the longest name</h5><br /><a href="http://www.greensarecoming.org.uk/Kensington">Zahra-Melan Ebrahimi-Fardouee</a> of the Green party standing in Kensington has 28 characters in her name, she polled 753 votes<br /><br /><H5>candidate with the shortest name</h5><br />was ANON standing for the 'no description' party in Bath polled 69 votes<br /><br /><h5>the constituency with the longest name</h5><br />is Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East with 38 characters<br /><br /><h5>the constituency with the shortest name</h5><br />there are two with 4 characters:<br />Bath<br />Hovemooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-78930345562508713882010-05-06T16:52:00.004+00:002010-05-06T17:01:27.441+00:00lets try truth truthI've found the build up to this general election really quite interesting. Last time there was a general election i was out of work doing various temporary bit jobs and so i applied to be a poll station clerk, a job i enjoyed fulfilling an integral role in the democratic process. The tv debates have been great at raising the profile of parties but you wonder how much people are fully grasping about policies. A number of websites are providing quizzes that you can complete to see which party best fits your responses and filling them in i find, unsurprisingly, that i don't agree with any right leaning parties. In fact i think in elections it is easier to say who i don't agree with then who i do. There are plenty of policies from lib dems, green and labour that i think are great and others that are not so. Leaving a conundrum about which way to cast my vote. Boundary changes to the Sheffield (Central) constituency has given me the opportunity to vote in a seat that could quite well be marginal. A demographic that now includes more students and (as jarvis cocker describes them) pre-raphaelites down in broomhall, leading to a potentially huge swing from labour to lib dems. And with lib dems holding the local council they are in a good position. I've never seen so many pamphlets coming through my door, each day there seems to be forests to wade through, 'personalised' letters from vince cable, nick clegg, paul scriven (the candidate) and responses from the labour candidate. Though it was interesting to note that the last labour pamphlet had changed tact quite severely moving from highlighting differences between labour and lib dem to the apocalyptic vote for lib dems will give you a tory government, exclaiming that there can only be a labour or tory government. The rise of lib dems election on election means that things are becoming more and more 3 party politics.<br />Anyway, not only the 3 main parties want my vote but also the greens, bnp, ukip and an independent. An independent candidate sounds interesting and i wonder under what grounds is he standing and why would he want my vote. So i turn to the great world wide web and search out Rod Rodgers and come back with little return. It seems he doesn't even have his own website, political websites can only provide his name and address and so it seemed my search had been in vain. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/86573517.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1273165830&Signature=c7BtJo7a8Gg6%2BQK5C1Jste%2Bsk2w%3D "><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/86573517.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1273165830&Signature=c7BtJo7a8Gg6%2BQK5C1Jste%2Bsk2w%3D " border="0" alt="" /></a>Then i spotted a link to this photo, evidently a poster on his car door, and it appears he is standing, not for change and not for truth, but for truth truth. You know, not normal truth, proper truth truth. Quality, such an error strung poster just oozes class, all we here is change? and what on earth does 'change is not always progress truth' actually mean? It sounds like some chinese proverb that has been spat out of the babel fish application.<br />As philosophers around the world debate what is truth, rod rodgers has acknowledged this and created a whole new genre by creating truth truth - some may mock and laugh, but perhaps we have just uncovered a philosophical genius.<br /><br />enjoy voting<br /><br />thanks to <a href="http://twitpic.com/1fjkjx"><br />http://twitpic.com/1fjkjx</a>mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-38995104246456757752009-12-07T22:23:00.005+00:002009-12-12T22:43:49.971+00:00Hallelujah!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQhi2KtO1gn_7JiZVr7f9x6GoURxCGifQuCB9c5-uTPZ-ayujWyUECapvDVCdY0nX-icJ8FGLi2q4pyf_7Icd5DDo8BC_UWHastnY0zjuVlj_aLTBQKNwe4UiNjiCXrEAyWlx/s1600-h/Sheffield+Bradford+and+Bingley.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQhi2KtO1gn_7JiZVr7f9x6GoURxCGifQuCB9c5-uTPZ-ayujWyUECapvDVCdY0nX-icJ8FGLi2q4pyf_7Icd5DDo8BC_UWHastnY0zjuVlj_aLTBQKNwe4UiNjiCXrEAyWlx/s320/Sheffield+Bradford+and+Bingley.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414481399874710866" /></a>Went to see a performance of Handel's Messiah at <a href="http://www.sheffield-cathedral.co.uk/homepage.asp?articleID=89">Sheffield Cathedral</a> this evening. This was the first time that i have seen this piece performed. Me and Danni walked into town straight from work and, befitting an occasion of high culture, we had a McDonald's. I noticed that some workmen were, at the same time, removing all the fixed signage from the Bradford and Bingley building opposite. Sadly this bank fell during the crash and were bought out by Santander. After finishing our meal we walked past the building and i asked if i could take the little bowler hat, a symbol synonymous with the Bradford and Bingley brand. So now i'm the proud owner of this little hat :) <br />The music in the concert was beautiful, the acoustics of the cathedral are lovely. Must admit there were the odd bits where you just wished the singers could finish a word without so much repeating and warbling. During the interval we went to get a drink and had to join the world's longest queue. As I was closing in on the drink point i could see an old dear looking my way and she seemed to recognise me. I wasn't too sure that i knew her but gave a nod and a smile back, just in case. This obviously caused a stir amongst her friends and one of them turned and said to me, "you are one of the soloists aren't you!" which made me laugh in side as i have perhaps the worst tone deaf voice you can imagine. I had to confess that unfortunately i was not and made a mental note not to wear a white shirt and black trousers to such a gig.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-65483911848371799662009-11-11T20:13:00.003+00:002009-11-11T20:38:42.677+00:00blogging, so 2006not blogged for ages, why is that? Am i too busy or can't i be bothered, or maybe it's so 2006. Blogging's for nerds who aren't busy enough. But i like blogging and maybe i miss it a bit. Or perhaps it's cos i'm reading jPod and i'm feeling all nostalgic for 2007. Loads of interesting stuff must've happened and will i miss those memories and thoughts not captured here? Were hours spent on <a href="http://www.facebook.com">facebook</a> worth it. Seemed fun at the time, but it seems these days i can't be bothered to keep up to date with a myriad of people. Any way stuff has happened, good and bad and days, weeks and years have been ticked off. So anything to show? weddings, friends, kisses, life, death, job, worries. Anything new? dreams. is there time to dream. yes. no. but dreams stay dreams, time moves. can you strive for something tangible, or are all tangibles fleeting? Yes i'm getting all douglas coupland, and that's why i love his books. do i Like them because i elements of myself in his characters or is he astute at capturing the zeitgeist. Do i wish i was the Zeitgeist. Or am i just a nerd that gets excited when someone writes about a character that is excited about pi and prime numbers. I love coupland's quick and crisp narrative that floats between story and random interventions. Pages of chinese characters, computer code, lists and ingredients. There's something that excites me and compels me to read. mediocre. life. nonsense. there is so much to see and do yet time just seems to slip through and if i sift through all the mundaneness is there anything of value left. and who measures that value? what about the kingdom of god? Is that mundane too? maybe i should blog just to remind myself how mundane life is, and maybe i will see things that count. what counts? and who says it counts# who says i need a question mark^ <br /><br />just downloaded a new version of iTunes, probably sold my soul by agreeing to the new terms and conditions, waited ages for the installation, rebooted and not a lot has changed. i can still play my tunes.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-19321560422518508952009-06-26T06:08:00.002+00:002009-06-26T06:40:38.282+00:00MichaelTurned on the radio last night just before heading to sleep, listening to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music">6Music</a> when between songs they head over to the news room. An unusual thing to happen on a predominantly music station, and there I hear the news that Michael Jackson has been rushed to hospital and there are reports that he wasn't breathing. Immediately it sounds very grave and I feel a sense of shock, this is not a man whose time it is to die. Then there are the rumours that he has died and I just can't get to sleep, so wander downstairs and watch some 24 hour news, where this is the top story. At that time there are various reports that he has died or in a coma, until eventually the sad news is reported that he has died. Unbelievable. How can someone I have never met, nor indeed, desired to meet's death cause me an emotional shockwave? There are few celebrity deaths that have stirred me, and I can still remember the events now. Waking up in November 1991 to hear that Freddy Mercury had died, even though his illness was well known, probably the first person to die that I would recognise as a pop star. Then getting into grunge music during my teen years, being particularly influenced by the music of Nirvana, there was the shock of Kurt Cobain's suicide in April 1994. This news I remember hearing during a power cut at home, listening to the radio on my walkman. The news of Princess Diana's death in 1997 shocked the world, and finally the death of John Peel in 2004. Michael joins this list, and it's interesting that the majority of this list are in someway connected to the music industry. I love music, and growing up in the 80s, Michael Jackson was just part of the scene. Everyone new who Michael Jackson was, even when i wasn't really into music, I was aware of Thriller, that video, and his pepsi advert where he caught fire. Autumn 1987 I can vividly remember a newsround dedicated to the release of Bad, people rushing into the stores and buying handfuls of LPs. Everyone at school could sing "I'm bad, I'm bad, you know I'm really bad." A few years later I remember sitting glued to the bbc who were going to exclusively show Michael's video to "Black and White". The suspense surrounding it was justified, it was a ridiculous bombastic and expensive video featuring Slash on guitars. To be honest I recall being fairly ambivalous to the music, but was completely blown away with the special effects used to morph people's faces from one to another. The first time I'd seen such technology, something which will cause no stir these days, but back then it was the talk of my peer group. How could a computer morph people's features - amazing! Though the succeeding periods saw the demise in the quality of his music, he continued to be headline news and sell records by the bucketload. Hi unusual and eccentric behaviour, his fascination with children began to lead to him being vilified by the press - culminating in the Martin Bashir documentary which painted Michael as the weirdo we all thought he was. Though I'm sure this documentary was deliberately made to portray him so, and I expect if they wished they could've compiled footage to portray a completely different person. However, even during all these allegations, Michael continued to showboat, turning up to court in pyjamas. So I guess throughout my life, Michael has continually been in the headlines - for exceptional music and for his eccentricities. And his music, particularly from the 70s and 80s always makes you want to get up and dance. I was hoping that his forthcoming live performances would be great and remind people that it was the music and performances that were what made him Michael Jackson, not his eccentricities. His death will sadden many, and I'm sure there will be swathes of over-emotional fans, cos he had such a crazy fan base, and I remain saddened. The death of an ever present showman who has always been there throughout my life has gone. A stark reminder to the fragility and shortness of life, we are just dust in the wind.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-91625185095762231322008-01-13T16:53:00.000+00:002008-01-13T17:22:58.579+00:00paintingjust before new year i was shopping in wilkos when i chanced upon canvases for sale at £2. Now at that price i thought i might try and do some painting, a few small tubes of acrylic paint were equally cheap. Listening to MIA at the time i had visions of colours and images flashing vibrantly through my head. Painting would be the way to capture them. I made the purchase, got home and found my little polyfiller trowel. Not having an artists pallette, i made one blue peter style from a piece of card wrapped in tin foil, put on bamboo banga by MIA really loud and set to work, whirring the trowel over the canvas. I really enjoyed the creative burst and was quite pleased with how the painting turned out. Buoyed on with the success i purchased further canvases and tried a couple more paintings using different music tracks for influence. Click the images to see full size.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/2151105529"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2151105529_0a8b8d57b8.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/2169816612"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2169816612_57bf6d8ee7.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/2169020927"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2182/2169020927_c2587f74c0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />and a clip of me painting<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2PraRSLSa7k&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2PraRSLSa7k&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-49561523548989126622008-01-13T16:34:00.000+00:002008-01-13T16:53:34.754+00:00Nat Johnson live review<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/2084641132/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/2084641132_18f2519a37.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Early december i used my last annual leave to have a long weekend in london. I always enjoy spending time in london, there's always plenty to see and do. This time i was keen to check out the new exhibition in the turbine hall. Shibboelth is a huge crack that has been created in the actual fabric of the hall floor. It's an incredible and novel idea, the name of the piece taken from a passage in Judges where the gileadites use the word to distinguish their enemy, fellow israelites, but from the tribe of Ephraim. The inability of the Ephramites to pronounce the word correctly resulted in their execution. A brutal biblical story that leaves 45k dead. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/2084599410"><img style="float:right; margin:10 10 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/2084599410_be795921fa.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>A term that since has been come to use a means of differentiating between types of people, here the crack represents the cracks and divisions that arise in society. Cracks that are set up as stumbling blocks to make life harder for those who are different. It's a powerful message, and a popular piece of work. Plenty of other interesting things to see in and around the tate modern. Sunday afternoon I had to run to catch my coach home, just arriving at the platform on time. The journey was delayed and i arrived back in sheffield later than anticipated, but just in time to get to the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/redhousesheffield">red house</a> in sheffield to see <a href="http://www.myspace.com/judybeat">nat johnson's</a> debut gig. The lead singer of <a href="http://www.mstu.co.uk">monkey swallows the universe</a> is currently pursuing some solo work during the indefinate hiatus. Despite the songs being very new, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/2094493587"><img style="float:left; margin:10 10px 10px 10;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2076/2094493587_cefbc64971.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>it is clear that with a bit of nurture they will grow into songs of beauty. She has a rare talent in making music that contains that <i>je ne sais quois</i> which sets it way above the rest. Teletext deemed my review worthy of publishing, a rarity for a debut gig review to be published i'm sure.<br /><br />my photos of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/sets/72157603367612767/">london dec 07</a><br />photos of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/sets/72157603367482769/">Nat's gig</a>mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-7846257151910245742008-01-13T16:18:00.000+00:002008-01-13T16:33:44.453+00:00MIA live review<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/2128673796/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2249/2128673796_57411b5781.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Just before christmas i got my <a href="http://www.miauk.com">M.I.A.</a> review published on teletext. It's pleasing to see this on the screen as it was my favourite gig of the year. M.I.A. has a sound that is so fresh and original, the music is almost alive. Click the image to see full size to read the full review.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-91438199386381840022007-12-23T14:32:00.000+00:002007-12-23T15:46:10.639+00:00Music review 2007Time for me to compile a list of my favourite music from the last year, and it has been a very good one on the music front. And I'll probably miss something<br /><br />Top 10 Albums of 2007<br /><br />1 <a href="http://www.listentofeist.com">Feist</a> - The Reminder<br />This album is superb, from lilting pop to understated folk. Feist's voice is wonderful and beautifully backed by intricate melodies as she sings of love won and lost. Favourite track: The Park.<br /><br />2 <a href="http://www.miauk.com">MIA</a> - Kala<br />Bought on the back of glowing comments on teletext, this album proved to be huge. Inventive and fresh, these electronic noises rage with life. Challenging intelligent lyrics bolster this heady mix of beats, bringing issues of war and poverty to the dance floor. Fave song: $20<br /><br />3 <a href="http://www.arcadefire.com">Arcade Fire</a> - Neon Bible<br />Once again they have managed to expertly bring together a myriad of instrumentation to make a sound that is vivid and not pompous. Hurdy Gurdy's and Cathedral Organs nestle with electric guitars and horns. Songs question the insignificance of the church and it's apparent failure to engage with modern life. Fave song: Intervention<br /><br />4 <a href="http://www.mstu.co.uk">Monkey Swallows the Universe</a> - Casket Letters<br />I have been privilaged to have become friends with this bunch of musicians over the last year and as such it makes it harder to review their music. Their second album certainly produced the goods, lilting folk pop, songs full of charm and accessibility. Music this good should really be playing on iPods around the country. Fave song: Gravestones<br /><br />5 <a href="http://www.radiohead.com">Radiohead</a> - In Rainbows<br />Radiohead return to form with this album. Mixing interesting electronic noises with their brand of guitar rock. Thom varies his vocal performances with falsettos providing frshness to tracks. They continue to show that rock music can evolve. Fave song: Reckoner<br /><br />6 <a href="http://www.arts-crafts.ca/stars/">Stars</a> - In our bedroom after the wall<br />Third entry by a canadian band in the top ten. Girl/boy vocals play together against sunny guitar pop. Songs of love and broken relationships interplay, as the music careers between 70s funk to piano ballads. Fave song: Personel<br /><br />7 <a href="http://www.tsdole.co.uk">Strange Death of Liberal England</a> - Forward March!<br />Passionate vocals are hollered against a backdrop of angry guitars. But it's not all noise as gentle glockenspiel and banjo are cleverly included. Vibrant and punchy. Fave track: A day another day<br /><br />8 <a href="http://www.myspace.com/etjusticepourtous">Justice</a> - cross album<br />An album named by a symbol - how crazy (!) This album starts with the dirtiest rummbling bass that entrances your legs into a dancing frenzy. The beats continue to pound as funk laden melodies are carried along. Album begins to tire after the first half for me. Fave track: D.A.N.C.E.<br /><br />9 <a href="http://www.bjork.com">Bjork</a> - Volta<br />As always Bjork brings an album to the table that continues to bring music from the future. Working with some of the world's most inventive producers she brings alien noises to back her unique voice. The album suffers from patchy mediocre tunes, but the good ones are very very good. Fave track: Earth Intruders<br /><br />10 <a href="http://www.malcolmmiddleton.co.uk">Malcolm Middleton</a> - A Brighter Beat<br />Malcolm sings about the downs and hurts of life with wit and uplifting tunes. Often overlooked for being depressing, his lyrics are actually filled with hope in the gritty reality that often you feel let down by life. Anti folk at its best. Fave track: Brighter Beat<br /><br />Of course I haven't managed to listen to loads of albums that have been released this year and am sure that some of them may well have made my top ten and the alustrious acolades that that brings ;)<br /><br />Top singles:<br /><br />1 Justice - D.A.N.C.E.<br />2 Going to a town - Rufu Wainwright<br />3 Fire Escape - Fanfarlo<br /><br />three singles will do cos I don't really pay attention to singles anymore<br /><br />Top gigs of the year:<br /><br />1 MIA - Manchester Academy 2<br />Only a few days ago, this stormed straight to the top of the gig list. I was so impressed with the live mixing of electronic loops and the ferocity of MIAs vocal delivery. A performance full of passion whipping the crowd into a frenzy of dancing. Astounding<br /><br />2 Arcade Fire - Latitude<br />Awesome finish to a really great festival, with Final Fantasy joining them onstage the bombastic orchestral sound was electric. <br /><br />3 Feist - Manchester<br />Small venue, big voice. Session musicians squeezed onto the stage gave a wonderful rounded sound to supplement her gossamer vocals. Wonderful<br /><br />4 Monkey Swallows the Universe - Merlin<br />Launching their new album, this theatre proved the perfect venue for their wonderful indie folk pop. <br /><br />5 Hush the Many - leadmill<br />Supporting The Fields - this support act blew me away with their wondrous soundscapes. Supplemented with cello and understated boy/girl vocals this sound was awe inspiring. Hope to hear more in the future.<br /><br />more of my live reviews can be read in the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/sets/72057594137683240/">teletext flickr set</a><br /><br />Music I discovered this year that was out ages ago<br /><br />Sufjan Stevens - this man is so good. His Illinois Album has been catapulted into my all time top albums ever. Wonderful instrumentation backs intelligent and heartfelt lyrics. You must own some of his music. Thanks to <a href="http://www.last.fm">Last.fm</a> and <a href="http://http://caitjane.blogspot.com/">cait</a> for the recommendation.<br /><br />Bat for Lashes - spotted on glastonbury this eccentric musician is not only beautiful, but creates wonderful folk pop.<br /><br />Antony and the Johnsons - what a voice! Album picked up on the cheap, knew it was a mercury winner - and how. <br /><br />Thom Yorke - solo album of chilled electronica fused with his varied vocals. great for focusing concentration when at work.<br /><br />Bands to look out for this year:<br />Operator Please, I was a cub scout (for pink squares, a top pop tune), nat johnson, fanfarlo, hush the manymooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-89722596448918768962007-11-27T20:19:00.000+00:002007-11-27T20:38:38.210+00:00Last Sunday RoastSunday I went to the parent's house. The place I used to refer to as home. It still is home in some sense, there'll be the odd time I'll say I'm going home, when what I mean is I'm going to see the parents. This was the last time I would go as they are due to move house shortly to downsize. It's been a great home and full of plenty of memories. Christmases, spectrum computers, lego, washing up liquid bottle water fights, snow, hurricanes, pets, friends. But really none of those memories are tied to the bricks of the place, rather the items and people that were in them. I loved living there and the rolling views, the ability to walk off the end of the garden and pick up a footpath and head up to Ashover, but it's not a place I've called home for a long time now. It was nice to gather as a family, eat and reminisce. I helped with a few chores before taking away the last few items that belong to me. It'll be a bit strange not to be going back there again, though my mark has been made. I scrawled on a number of the walls at various ages as the wall paper had been stripped :)mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-44891231848369361852007-11-27T19:52:00.000+00:002007-11-27T20:19:14.442+00:00Nostalgic weekendIt's been ages since I've blogged, I seem to spend most of my net time on scrabulous these days. Anyway, thought I'd blog about some stuff, so I'll start with a few weeks ago, though I'll set the post date to match the time it occured.<br /><br />Saturday afternoon I headed to Bolton to see the wonderful <a href="http://www.mstu.co.uk">monkey swallows the universe</a> and I gave a lift to ag to help with transportation. JT and his girlf came down too, so it was a good opportunity to meet up with them and introduce them to the live sound of mstu. The venue was actually quite nice, a little pub with small band stage and a huge video backdrop, that for the most part of the evening was playing anime. It was pretty strange to watch mstu with some futuristic japanese backdrop. As always I enjoyed the gig, despite a few technical problems with the mikes and mixing desk. Oh yes, the other really exciting part about the set was that I had been asked to put the songs on their set list into a running order. So the song order was in the main part how I'd picked them. A few changes had been made due to instruments required in the songs. The weather had turned for the worse so on the way back i decided to go via the m62, ag played dj on the iPod and we were making good progress despite the driving rain. As we came down the M1 the variable message signs were informing 'pedestrians in road' 50mph. We dismissed this as foolish, suggesting that surely they meant workers in road. A couple of miles later and out of apparently nowhere some guy was thumbing for a lift right in the hard shoulder. It was crazy, what on earth was he doing there! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/2039747241"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2348/2039747241_89bd2ac199.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Sunday afternoon I spent going through the numerous boxes of stuff I'd picked up from my parents a few days previously. I'm rubbish at throwing things away and I was faced with the quandry of what to do with a pile of smash hits from the late 80s, piles of school books, and boxes of old birthday and christmas cards. In the end most got sealed in boxes ready to go into my loft. I did come across a few interesting things. A class project on how to keep warm in winter was full of lots of useful advice, though I seemed to get sidetracked and talked about playing He-Man. I was Battle-Cat. Also a bit strange to read John's entry, even back then he got a mention for his beloved Liverpool FC in the scarf he wore. Reading through my creative writing journal was also tinged with sadness as I read many 'famous five' inspired adventures where me and my friend John would solve some mystery or other. I'm sure if John was still here he would've taken great delight in reading them now. There was another piece that described the things I liked and was amused that the things i liked when i was ten pretty much still stand: Reading, maths, walking. <br /><br />More tips on how to keep warm in winter can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/sets/72157600007399596/">here</a>mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-20058723630975984262007-11-04T16:58:00.000+00:002007-11-04T17:21:22.172+00:00Music reviewsI've been to a couple of gigs this week and had one review published on teletext - hooray. This was from a gig at the leadmill on monday, though I actually preferred the support act - sound grade, but I quite liked it, so to rescue the words from obscurity I shall paste them here:<br />I was a cub scout - live leadmill 29/10<br /><br />I don't know what Todd Marriott's fire making or knot tying skills are like, but on tonight's performance he will be gaining his synth twiddling badge with distinction. Bedroom synth pop is given life and vibrancy from driving live percussion, this is no geeky art noise but a colossus of pulsing pop. Todd's distinct vocals work well with the clattering guitar and his passionate performance is infective. Pinks squares epitomises the best of their catchy sound. Akela would be pleased. <br /><br />8/10<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/1858158765"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2014/1858158765_0e692e4a4a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Forward Russia were the headline act, and although they produced a riotous noise, the lack of vocal variety began to bore me a bit.<a href="http://www.iwasacubscout.net/">i was a cub scout</a>. The penned review didn't make the planet I'm always a little embarrassed when a slightly critical review is published, I really respect anyone who forms and plays in a band - creativity should be encouraged and i hope my criticism can help encourage them to greater things. They probably will never see it anyway ;)<br /><br />The second gig was the remarkable <a href="http://www.arcadefire.com/flash.html">arcade fire</a> who i saw at nottingham arena. The third time i've seen them live this year. Being seated i felt that somehow the passion on the stage was sucked out by the cavernous venue and so i didn't really get into the live experience as much as previous times. The music was still unbelievably good, musical prowess at it's height, they have a knack of arranging a myriad of musical sounds to form a cacophony of pulsing rock. I'm pleased that they are reaching super group status, but sorry that the energy of more intimate gigs can not be felt as strongly. There were a couple of new songs played and also a Smiths cover, but disappointingly some idiots thought it would be good to throw bottles at the band. Win Butler was understandably annoyed and promptly left the stage after finishing the song where the incident occurred. The band did reappear but another bottle was thrown enraging Butler further who exclaimed the band would never play Nottingham again if anything else came their way. Thankfully nothing did and the band did return for an encore, but I can't help thinking that the encore was somewhat reduced in length because of the incident. Bah - arena gigs are a let down (apart from the white stripes who were awesome a few years ago)mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-17772789594583695342007-10-28T17:25:00.000+00:002007-10-28T17:38:21.317+00:00Milling<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/1792935000/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2369/1792935000_ae8a8b2962.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Had a nice day milling around yesterday. After a busy week of late nights and meetings it was nice to have some time relaxing. Didn't really achieve a great deal on my visit into the city centre. Popped to the library to see if they had Science of Sleep on dvd, which they do, but someone has failed to return it and it is now 2 weeks overdue. Still want to see this film, it looks interesting and i missed it when it was on at the showroom. Did have <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/1792900750/"><img style="float:right; margin:10 10 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2364/1792900750_668ac74183.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>a look to see if i could buy it, but the cheapest i found was £9 which i wasn't prepared to shell out. Whilst in the library i went up to the <a href="http://www.sheffieldgalleries.org.uk/coresite/html/graves.asp">graves gallery</a> to take a few photos of the kiss, which is a piece i admire, and it is currently set in a nicely laid out gallery.<br />Also popped into the cathedral which is somewhere I've never been to in all my years in the city. Nice to wander around and there were a few people in there admiring the space and lighting a candle, saying a prayer. It's good that there is such a space in the city to do that, though it has never struck me to go in before. Whilst inside I decided to see if i could find john wesley who i'd heard was present in one of the stained glass windows. I found him with the help of the verger, nestling in the corner of the piece in the holy spirit chapel room. I don't think i'd've found it without help. It's actually quite large inside and there are loads of windows. <br />Click the images to see larger sizes.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-6305413118104439842007-10-17T19:44:00.000+00:002007-10-17T19:57:45.691+00:00runaway boy at runaway girlI popped into the library on saturday whilst i was wandering around town, mainly to go and view the exhibition in the <a href="http://www.sheffieldgalleries.org.uk/coresite/html/graves.asp">graves gallery</a>. They have some nice photography and some abstract pieces in at the moment. One of the galleries looked especially good, a great use of space and colour and perhaps the best setting i've seen of the sculpture 'the kiss'. Whilst i was leaving i picked up an information booklet about the annual festival of reading and writing in sheffield, <a href="http://www.offtheshelf.org.uk/">off the shelf</a>. I'd noticed that tonight there was opportunity to go and read something aloud for up to 3 minutes at the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/therunawaygirlclub">runaway girl</a>. It sounded interesting and I wondered if i could perhaps try reading a bit of the book I'm writing aloud. Bit apprehensive about mooting a work in progress, but there was a scene i'd read on saturday which i was quite happy with, and would also work as a stand alone piece. So off i toddled this evening, late cos getting into town for 7:30 isn't going to happen when you get home at 6:30 and have nothing in the fridge to eat. No matter, i envisaged a bar of bohemian writers and creative types, musing over beer and wine. Perhaps I may even find a creative writing class that could provide some assistance. I could slip in and listen to the readings and if brave, venture forwards and breath life into my sterile words. Take them off the page and see how they form when i articulate them audibly. Maybe receive some feedback. I got there and snuck a look through the window, all the tables were set out and they were filled with groups of people enjoying a meal over a glass of wine. Not looking particularly bohemian, more 'richard and judy book club' middle class women. A split decision, i'm not going to be able to sneek in here and sit and be comfortable. no way. I'll stick out like a fool with no friends.<br /><br />run away....mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-63642989568744504692007-10-12T18:25:00.000+00:002007-10-12T19:03:41.390+00:00Stars live at Leeds BrudenellLast tuesday i went to leeds to see Stars and they were fantastic. I'd gone straight from work in the leeds office, but the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry and so it did that day too. My change of clothes so that i could change into indie kid for the evening gig was left in my house and i was seconded onto a two day future strategy meeting whilst at the office meaning that the next morning i would have to be up at 0530 to go to stratford and miss emma pollock. <br />Like eddie izzard i wonder what plans that mice make?<br /><br />Anyway, the brudenell at leeds is fast becoming one of my favourite venues and after the passable support we were treated to a wonderful set by the stars. Canadian bands are ruling the roost at the moment and stars are right up there. Songs from their <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisiddon/1551996542/"><img style="float:left; margin:10 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2076/1551996542_96938add68.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>3rd, breakthrough, album proved popular with the audience and the new material was sounding promising. As the set finished i rushed to purchase their new release and then wondered if there would be an encore, the guy at the mixing desk certainly looked like he was expecting more, but it had been some time since the band left the stage. Some people began making their way to the exit, but I hung back for a while and eventually the guy vocalist appeared back on stage and explained he'd taken off his shirt cos it was so sweaty and he didn't have anything else to wear and so he was late re-appearing whilst they searched for something for him!<br /><br />Anyway, i've had time to listen to the new album a few times and it carries on where the last album left off and is very good indeed. I want to see them again now and appreciate the new songs live. As always I dropped a review to teletext, but this week i was disappointed to see that the editor had been to see them in london and published his review so I thought that mine would be lost. But today my review was there - hooray, it's been ages since my last teletext review.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-58802936947074641572007-10-09T20:26:00.000+00:002007-10-09T21:29:54.515+00:00a new location for cvm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv-wiwKh_tkb5H4_UTGzn5BdiwT049v3lyo3H-cvk423pB1eVE4KoeuUyAFynL1DLfSXoOopOB4rAN0AJUGy65piu8qI__Nwlrf3wrdXUvarp_nIGHgVeo8_Z7xwU6XdN60en/s1600-h/IMG_2034.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv-wiwKh_tkb5H4_UTGzn5BdiwT049v3lyo3H-cvk423pB1eVE4KoeuUyAFynL1DLfSXoOopOB4rAN0AJUGy65piu8qI__Nwlrf3wrdXUvarp_nIGHgVeo8_Z7xwU6XdN60en/s200/IMG_2034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119436472117827282" /></a>A new start on Sunday for <a href="http://www.crookesvalley.co.uk">crookes valley</a>. It's been a long journey to get to this place, and it was quite exciting to start the next stage. Can't remember how long ago it is since we sold the old church building, four years or so, and we spent a good few years looking at potential properties, and in one case going a long way down the road of preparing to purchase it. Then we realised that we just don't have the personel base to run a building and keep it well maintained. So we continued with meeting at the community centre and had chance to meet together and try and work out where, as a methodist society, we were heading. Through various discussions and prayer it seemed that our way forward was to focus on our informal way of conducting worship, and not get tied to a specific geographical location. A difficult conclusion to reach, especially for those whom have been part of a particular geography for many years. So this year we have spent time visiting other churches in the area, looking for a suitable home, somewhere where we could offer an alternative type of service. It was interesting going to other churches and having a break from the routine, and after meeting with various leadership teams to talk about practicalities, we came to a decision to move to Broomhill. So is this the promised land, have we crossed over the Jordan? The metaphors of the fledging Israelite nation are apparent, and there's still a way to go. We've realised that we do have something to offer, but how to articulate what our 'worship style' is about has proved difficult. Saying it is 'cafe church' seems trite and loaded, but we do sit around tables and drink tea and coffee through the service. We're at home singing ancient hymns as we are with new worship songs. Open to discussion and yet able to listen too. It's definately a space i would like to invite friends to if they wanted to explore faith. And so it was our first sunday meeting at the same time as the broomhill service, but in another room. I'd been looking forward to it for some time, the last few services at the community centre have seemed a drag, expectant to be elsewhere, but knowing that the time is not yet come. It was good, a nice service, the venue suited our style, and we even had passing trade. People new to the area looking for a suitable church at which to worship. Something our previous location did not offer. So our journey continues, and unlike the Israelites i don't think it will involve the destruction and piliging of the current occupants, but hopefully some kind of partnership will evolve. We offering church for those who are dissatisfied with current models, and the current society offering church for those who enjoy the format of tradition. I wonder where we'll be in a years timemooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-18350946503571229622007-10-02T16:20:00.000+00:002007-10-02T16:23:37.992+00:00CountdownI'd just finished eating my tea and having reached a suitable stopping point in the film i was watching I turned off the dvd. The tv flicked back onto channel four and i just caught the announcer informing that the very first episode of Countdown is to be aired on more4. Quickly turning over I was greeted with the old multi-coloured channel 4 logo before launching into Countdown. It began with these awful 80s graphics, reminiscent of school programmes of the same period. A slim richard whitely introduced the scope of the game, introducing the contestents: A solicitor from london who appeared to have stopped buying clothes in the 1950s, sporting a bryll creamed slicked back hair style and gestapo glasses. And some 28 year old guy with a tash, that could easily have passed for being 45. The game got underway and it was clear that the solicitor had a greater vocabularly than anyone else, having to spell out his words. Coupes, 'and what is that?' asks richard. 'I believe it is a kind of dish, or it could be the plural of a kind of car'. Dictionary corner confirmed it is a word, 'is it a dish?' the dictionary had obviously been closed 'er, yes, it is' is the unconvincing reply. Strangely, although carol vorderman is present for the numbers, there is another girl who takes out the letters and places them on the board. Trying to stifle a giggle as the letters sex come out consequetively. The contestants are pretty rubbish at the numbers, but a very young looking carol with very bad hair, makes easy work of it. Easing into the lead the solicitor dude has no problems with the final anagram, which has yet to be christened the countdown conundrum. However the loser reveals that he had worked out the anagram straight away, but had forgotten to press his buzzer, assuming a need to wait for the 30s to completemooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-65807331707803683132007-10-02T16:18:00.000+00:002007-10-02T16:19:56.978+00:00FeistAfter the excellent Feist performance in manchester back in July, I had immediately purchased tickets for her show in Nottingham, which was just over a week ago. AD drove and we found a side street to park in before wandering down to the venue. Nottingham has really changed since i lived here, barely recognising the main streets. The Social was very small, and too small for an act of Feist's calibre. I don't know who her booking agent is, but she could have filled the venue a couple of times over I'm sure. Again she was excellent, a voice to silence crowds, achingly sensuous, yet also passionate enough to carry her more rocky tunes. Her excellent backing band added to the mix, with guitar harmonies and delicatley placed horns. The rendition of 'The Park' was nothing short of sublime, she really is one of the best acts around at the moment.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12839737.post-3580069425650474822007-09-25T21:14:00.000+00:002007-09-25T21:19:39.680+00:00a yearThis time last year I was grieving the <a href="http://chrisiddon.blogspot.com/2006/09/john.html">loss of a good friend</a>. It's been a year when he has often been in my thoughts. At football matches and watching it on tv, knowing that john would have an opinion on the performance. Knowing that he'd've been at the champion's league final. Then there are the small times like seeing post cards in jordan and remembering all the places which i have sent a post card from to him. Or the odd predicament i get in that i know would make him laugh if he were to hear my re-telling or see it on the blog. He'd've chuckled at my failed attempt on the 3 peaks and made some comment about my infirmities, and i think he'd enjoy seeing my reviews on teletext too. I guess these times will never go and it still pains knowing that i can't share them with him now.mooghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13630346596107467214noreply@blogger.com0