Thursday, February 09, 2012
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Sunday, 29 January 2012 15:15
Death of a town - one week on
Blimey. What happened? I never imagined my little rant would bring us to this position; a week on from my original blog I seem to have become a voice of dissent against the Council and powers that be. I've read every comment, listened to every part of the debate that I can and even spoken to the local MP about the issues raised. 8 days later this is what I've learned. Radio Northampton and Councillor Bullock. I was interviewed by Tom on Radio Northampton on a rainy Tuesday morning last week and one of his questions was 'Am I being…
Saturday, 21 January 2012 11:54
Death of a town
Kettering - what happened? Trying to get in, and out, of Kettering this week has lead me to writing this piece. The A6 all snarled up, can't get out of Warkton Lane, honestly, it's a nightmare. Sitting in the traffic made me think about this town that I've been involved with, personally and in business, for the past 27 years and I'm firmly convinced unless something dramatic happens the place may well die. The town centre anyway; there are destination places: Wicksteed Park being one of them, but why would you wake up on a Saturday morning and think to…
Tuesday, 17 January 2012 22:16
The face of sleeping beauty
Romance and the fairytale Have you ever seen 'The Notebook'? The film of the Nicholas Sparks book. If you like romantic films (and I do when they're done well) it is one of the most beautiful films ever made, in my opinion. I'd put it up there with the greats like 'Brief Encounter' and 'Dr Zhivago'. It's that good. Do you know why I think it's that good? Because it offers hope. It offers the pure and simple dream that the fairytale is possible, throughout all the crap we have in our lives, throughout all the pain we endure, that…
Thursday, 29 December 2011 12:22
Turn it on again
A quick review Every year we start with the same words: "Have a happy and prosperous new year, may this one be your best yet". Well I can tell you that 2011 was bloody awful, for me at least. Too many feelings of loneliness, too many days of desperation, too much pain and too much despair. People tend to think, because of my sunny disposition, that things are always going great for me. 2011 definitely proved otherwise. Of course it's not to say that every day was bad, but too much was. I'll come to the highlights in a bit.…
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 10:10
Ghosts
Not the spooky type I loved ‘Randall & Hopkirk – Deceased’ when I was a young boy; I love the idea of ghosts; the fact that there is something out there that can look after you, or you can talk to or will protect you, but the fact is I don’t believe in them. Well, not the spooky type anyway. You may have come to this piece of writing expecting an analysis of Derek Acorah and the whole ghost hunt thing. This isn’t that discussion. This is about the ghosts that do exist – your own. Memories and 'Your Song'…
Monday, 07 November 2011 15:41
The folly of perfect love
The quest for true love Do you believe in perfect love? I have a theory. I often ask a person if they've seen 'The Princess Bride'; if they have, and many have, I then ask did they like it. Most do, occasionally someone won't; I struggle to understand how anyone can't. It's got humour, swordfights, treachery, excitement, great story telling and true love. I think that's what we all crave and yet it's so hard to find. If someone doesn't like 'The Princess Bride' then I wonder if they understand the concept of true love. I know it's simplistic and…
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 19:43
It's a sad, sad situation
The problem of mental health This weekend I was interviewed for an article on mental health in Northamptonshire. It was prompted by a piece of research I was given by the chief executive of Wellingborough MIND, Nigel Mansfield (Nigel is also quoted in the article). There were a number of things that troubled us about the research; the first was that, although commissioned by the NHS, hardly anyone could find it. Even the journalist who wrote the article couldn't find it when she searched for it on the internet; so you have to ask why compile such a comprehensive report…
Thursday, 13 October 2011 09:23
Is Blackberry a 5 blade razor?
I've had a regular two blade wet shave razor for as long as I can remember, but recently it's been really difficult to get blades for it. Why? I have no idea. I was in the supermarket a few days ago and was looking again for the elusive blades when I spotted a good deal on a five blade razor. Five blades? I want to shave, not decapitate myself and then trim my hair! Anyway, for £3 it seemed a bargain so I bought it and brought it home. It's an amazing device. It works smoothly, delivers a good shave…
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Monday, 03 October 2011 21:54
A reflective look at the future
Wasn't it amazing? The last glorious days of summer, and they really were glorious. We have now lived through the hottest 30th September and early October days ever. We are part of history. Of course, we always are, but some days bring it home more than most. How did you spend that last hot weekend before autumn envelopes us in it's russet browns and golden yellows? Before the march of Christmas builds it's momentum and the spending spree begins. I walked in the fields, I enjoyed a communal curry night, I went to see my son at his new home…
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 06:45
Being Dad
Like thousands of others (I know this because I stood in the accommodation queue with many of them) my son went off to university this weekend. He was the last of the three. I say three, although in truth I borrow two of them; stepsons from my long term relationship with their mum. Kristian was the first to leave - he's studying in Birmingham; Cavan went to Eastbourne last year and Noah has begun in Nottingham. Anyone who has small children will imagine what it's like when they leave. Anyone who's children have gone will know the feeling I'm having…
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