Hill Hall

Today at the monthly meeting of Waltham Forest U3A there was a talk about Hill Hall, an Elizabethan mansion situated at Theydon Mount in Essex. I hadn't realised what a gem this building is, currently managed by English Heritage. It has had a very chequered history - built by a little known courtier of Edward VI and Elizabeth I (rising to be her first Secretary of State), and added to over the following two hundred years. It was sold by the family in the early twentieth century, and unfortunately some of the original features were removed at that time. This building exhibits some of the earliest examples of classical architecture in this country. Inside there are some wonderful wall paintings too. Like many large country houses in World War II it was requisitioned by the War Office, and knocked about quite a bit. In the 1950s and 60s it became a women's open prison (a kind of branch of Holloway) and one of the inmates was Christine Keeler. A fire then gutted the building and for twenty years it was left derelict and many of the features were destroyed as a result of weather and neglect. Now, much restoration has taken place and the unique wall paintings preserved. Although the building has been divided into several family homes, now the house can be viewed on supervised pre-arranged tours, every Wednesday in the summer months. Contact English Heritage for further information.

Reading Group

On my books blog (click on my complete profile, scroll down and click on books) there is an item about one of the reading groups I attend.
I designed a flyer to recruit new members recently. The picture above is the Beckton Globe, one of the libraries in Newham. This reading group meets at Plaistow Library.

Northern Rock - Total Insanity

These queues of people desperately trying to get their money out of Northern Rock is completely insane (the ones shown here are in my old home town, Chelmsford). Remarks heard include 'All these people can't be wrong - something is happening here, I don't want to lose my savings'; and most worrying of all 'There are no guarantees, I don't want to risk my money'. Alastair Darling and the FSA and the head of Northern Rock and the Bank of England have all said very clearly that there is enough money in the Northern Rock to repay all the money invested. Even if the bank goes broke (never going to happen - the government won't allow it) £2,000 is guaranteed, 90% of the next £33,000 is also guaranteed. How many of these people have more than £35,00 in the Bank? How many are going to take vast amounts of cash out and where will they put it? Under the mattress? The Chancellor said so many times that there is enough money in the Bank to cover all the savings. There is some truth in the old saying - AS SAFE AS THE BANK OF ENGLAND!!!
Now how do I invest in Northern Rock?

A trip to Smith Square

I had to attend a meeting at the former Transport House in Smith Square and as I drifted back towards the tube station I worked my way through the gardens by the Thames leading towards the gothic pile that is the Houses of Parliament. I was surprised to see the Buxton Memorial (erected to commemorate the part played by one of the campaigners for the abolition of slavery). It is now looking very sprightly in this year marking the two centuries since the passing of the Act. Further along is Rodin's sculpture of the burghers of Calais - a truly remarkable piece, and how wonderful to see it sitting in a public park where can be enjoyed (or ignored) by thousands of tourists. Then under the huge prescence of the grand Victoria Tower above the sovereign's entrance, in a little nook of its own is a memrial to Emmeline Pankhurst. Now I have a connection with Mrs P and her redoubtable daughters, because I was for a while a Superintendent Registrar in Manchester, and the Suffragette Leader was for a number of years a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the Chorlton on Medlock sub district. She worked out of her home in Nelson Street (near to the birth place of David Lloyd George). Her daughters were her deputies. So I have issued many certificates from registers bearing their signatures.

Further along my way to the tube station there are two further statues of note: Richard Coeur de Lion and Oliver Cromwell. I can't say the statue of George V on the opposite side of the road is noteworthy though. If I had been feeling better I would have sought out Nelson Mandella. One of those wonderful things about London is finding works of art to look at.

1800 Visitors

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A Modern Day Run on the Bank

Decades ago I used to teach commerce and history. Part of the course (both subjects) was a history of banking. I vividly remember seeing a picture of a stage coach loaded with gold being rushed by the Bank of England to save a County Bank in difficulties. In those days (mainly the end of the C18th and early C19th) banks issued their own currency which they backed with gold. Any holder of their banknotes could insist on exchanging these for the face value in gold. If these banks started to lend out too much to the wrong customers rumours would go round that the customers wouldn't be able to cash in their notes and they would end up left with a lot of worthless paper. The Bank of England would be the Lender of Last Resort, propping up these rocky institutions with the gold held in its vaults. In the 1970s when I was teaching this course the textbooks told me that 'runs on the banks' would never happen in modern society in the UK because all banks were so large (through mergers many old banks had disappeared by then - the Nationa & Provincial, the Midland, etc) that they were invulnerable. Since then lots of new banks have appeared (mainly former building societies) and today we are witnessing the old style 'runs' with queues building up outside branches of Northern Rock - customers demanding their deposits back. All just like the scenes in C18th England - and the film 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Trouble is the public aren't rational and despite the assurances of the Bank of England too many people are worried about the lending policies of most major (and all minor) banks in the UK. Alastair Darling (Chancellor of the Exchequer) was right to call for a return to 'old fashioned banking'.

BCCI went under leaving many people ruined. Is Northern Rock going to be allowed to go under. Probably not - but it might not be the best time to buy shares in that Bank - or perhaps it might be a long term investment - 30 years?

Kennet School Thatcham

This week marked the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Kennet School in Thatcham. I taught at the school in the 1970s for about six years. There was a reunion there last Tuesday. Both the school and the town (little more than a village in 1973) had changed almost out of all recognition. The motto had changed for the school from 'Courtesy Costs Nothing' to the one above - perhaps reflecting changes in education of which I know virtually nothing - or maybe a reflection of changes in society. I still have problems with with Year 10, Year 11 business. When and why did it change from 5th form, 3rd form? Two of the six houses have been abolished - including the ones dedicated to the patron saints of England and Scotland. A vast new building has gone up, mainly paid for out of money provided by the developers of a housing estate nearby. Ironically it was this very housing estate that flooded so disastrously in the recent bad weather. On the other hand the staff gathering - mainly if not exclusively composed of teachers I worked with - showed that people don't change a great deal. The weather was glorious, the pub lunch at the Spotted Dog in Cold Ash was pleasant, and it served to confirm that I was right to leave teaching more than twenty years ago!

Last Night of the Proms

The Proms have been a national institution for many many decades. The Last Night is a bizarre spectacular demonstration of national pride, flag waving and traditional British songs. One might have imagined that it would become stuck in the past, a gradually aging audience of no interest to the young and viewed from abroad as yet another example of eccentric British behaviour. However, ticket sales for the whole Proms Season reached a record high, and the spin off Last Night events - the Proms in the Park attract vast audiences, this year reaching a new venue - Middlesbrough. As these are outside, open air events it surprises me how many people want to attend in view of the unreliable weather. It deters no one. The standard of performances are amazingly high and every year a new range of pieces are added to the hard core of traditional Elgar and Arne, so beloved of Sir Malcolm Sargeant.

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Thanks to the 1700 people who have viewed my profile. Do leave a comment please! This is the coat of arms of my home borough - the London Borough of Newham.

Vicky Performs

I was pleased to go to the performance of Vicky Malin in Trafalgar Square yesterday. She was there as part of a festival of disability - one of the many regular festivals held in the wonderful space that now surrounds Nelson's Column. Ken Livingstone certainly provides 'bread and circuses' for the masses - in this case both native Londoners and hordes of tourists. Since Ken has been Mayor this area has changed from being a giant roundabout isolated by the rush of speeding traffic, the domain of crowds of pigeons who seemed intent on whitening everything that doesn't move - and even some that don't! Now pigeons have been shifted to the periphery, much of the area is pedestrianised and the space is used by everybody and anyone.
Back to Vicky - her performances were amazing, slightly terrifying and awe-inspiring. Crowds gathered and applauded warmly and were drawn in by the drama. How wonderful it is to see skill and dedication.

More Anti-Americanism?

Now British generals have started to publicly criticise the way in which the American military and former Secretary for Defence Donald Rumsfelt have handled the war in Iraq - especially the aftermath. Sir Mike Jackson (pictured here) has particularly been critical of the lack of realistic planning on the Americans' part. He especially pointed out that the US government's belief in Iraq changing in an instant from dictatorship and tyranny - a police/military state - into a freedom loving democracy was merely a pipedream.
In response the American government has (through inderict means) been extremely critical of the British behaviour in Basra - effectively claiming we've given up the South of Iraq to warlords and militia, and certain that the British will 'cut and run'. Oh - how different it was when Tony Blair was the only real supporter of George W and the neo cons of the US administration.

Amy Winehouse

Today the troubled singer's father-in-law suggested on Radio 5 Live that her fans should stop buying her tracks as an incentive towards getting her into rehab. I find this totally bizarre and unsupportive. She's never going to say 'yes' if she's pressurised into the decision. What do you all think?
I have to say I wasn't much of a fan but could appreciate her talent. And then her latest song 'Tears Dry On Their Own' began to get regular airings and I'm hooked. She is remarkable - but really does need to get her head together. I could see how troubled she was during an appearance on the terrific TV programme 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks'.

Ladies of Letters

I'm so pleased that a new series of the great comedy 'Ladies of Letters' is featuring on Radio 4 this week. This time the series is called 'Ladies of Letters say NO!' Starring those great treasures Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge it can be heard at 10.45am and 7.45pm. If you hear just one episode you will become an addict - just as I am! This couple of 'friends' have been through so much together over the years - imprisonment, love affairs, the pain and delights of children, and always falling out and making up throufh correspondence - first by letters, then through the Internet and emails. Go listen!

Mandela Statue

The statue of Nelson Mandela will finally be unveiled on 29th August. There was a great deal of controvery about where this sculpture would be placed. Ken Livingstone (and me too I have to admit) wanted it in Trafalgar Square. The most appropriate place would have been outside South Africa House. Westminster Council disagreed - and they had the final veto. So, it will now be placed in Parliament Square - close to that of another South African leader, Jan Smuts. I suppose there is a logic to this siting and Nelson Mandela will be present at the unveiling.
By the way this is my 240th posting.

Vicky Malin

I'm posting this article from today's 'Guardian'. It is about the stepdaughter of a friend of mine. If you're in London on Saturday - go see the entertainment!!!
A good head for heights
When Vicky Malin decided she wanted to be an acrobat, nothing got in her way - not even her cerebral palsy. Julie Bindel meets her Monday August 27, 2007The Guardian
Vicky Malin's speciality is aerial acrobatics. She begins on a mat and, using a body harness suspended from the ceiling, she emerges cocoon-like into the air, portraying the emotions of being born and "flying" into life, the joys of discovering the world. Her ambition is to be a fully fledged trapeze artist, and she is determined to let nothing stop her - including the fact that she has cerebral palsy.
On Saturday, Malin, 23, will perform in Trafalgar Square as part of Liberty, London's disability rights festival, which gives a platform to artists and entertainers who are often vulnerable to discrimination and prejudice in the mainstream entertainment world. The emphasis is on a high standard of performance. "With my act, people might see things they have never seen before," says Malin. "I want to really test my skills."


Article continues
On stage with Albert & Friends Instant Circus (A&F), Malin will be working alongside people taking part in activities such as unicycling, tightrope walking, juggling, hula-hoop and diabolo (a juggling prop consisting of a spool that is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks, one held in each hand).
Malin's speciality is doing acrobatics with a rope, which supports her. "It's a wonderful feeling," she says. "My mum says to me, 'I always knew you would end up doing something like this,' because when she took me to see Peter Pan as a child, I told her I wanted to fly."
Born in West Sussex, Malin attended an inclusive school, and was encouraged from an early age to join the drama and musical productions. "I was really lucky. I had teachers who pushed me to explore my creativity. For them, my disability was not, nor should have been, an obstacle."
On leaving university, Malin became a learning support assistant in schools before going to Thailand to volunteer in an orphanage. It was there, while working with a nine-year-old girl who also had cerebral palsy, that she realised she was not fulfilling her potential. "I noticed that people were seriously underestimating her abilities, so I began to work with her more intensively, helping her become more mobile, and realised that I had been underestimating my potential, too." While in Thailand, Malin found out about a course in dance for disabled people, run by the CandoCo company, some of whose dancers are disabled. "It was then that I admitted to myself that I really wanted to do dance and performance, and thought, why not?"
Malin decided to pursue the performing arts as a career. She learned to play the guitar to strengthen her arms, and joined a gym. "It was very hard work; I had to achieve peak physical fitness to develop the right-hand side of my body, since my cerebral palsy only affects that side."
As well as performing, Malin is involved in drama, dance and music workshops with children and young adults, and is now planning to learn trapeze. Does she identify herself as a disabled artist? "Yes, but I am far more than that. First and foremost, I want to entertain people with my performance, whether they are disabled or able-bodied."
When she connected with Albert & Friends - a dance group that teaches performance art to young people, no matter what their circumstances or the limits of their physical abilities - Malin learned a whole new set of skills. "The companies I work with focus on what performers can do, rather than what they can't," she says, and the results can be surprising: last year, 55 members of Albert & Friends achieved a Guinness Book of World Records attempt for the most people on stilts in an egg-and-spoon race.
When we met, Malin had just returned from Edinburgh, where Albert & Friends was well received. What did she see at the festival? "I was tempted to go and see the Crippendales," she laughs, referring to the group of toned, young male strippers with various disabilities. Does she ever worry about disabled artists feeding into able-bodied people's prejudices? "Some might assume their act is a bit of a freak show, but I think it can be just good fun."
Any self-consciousness Malin may have had in the past as a result of attitudes to her disability has disappeared, and the Liberty festival is a landmark event for her - one she's very much looking forward to. "This is an unbelievable platform to show off my work," she says. "People will actually be stopping and watching me perform. That is exactly what I want from my work - to entertain."
What ambition does Malin have for the future? Would she like to be talent-spotted at the festival? "Oh yes," she says, without hesitation. "I would love to be up there on a tightrope, and learn juggling. I don't mean to scare my mum, but I can't wait"
· Liberty: London's Disability Rights Festival takes place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday from 1-6pm. No admission charge. Details: london.gov.uk

1600 Visitors

Welcome to the extra 100 visitors to my profile in the past ten days. I'll need to keep posting to keep your interest up!

Best British Views?

Now there is a programme on ITV1 tonight where celebrities pick their favourite views in Britain. I have two contenders. One is Canary Wharf - seen at sunset, preferably in the autumn or winter travelling in a westerly direction from Gallions Reach. The sun hangs behind the highest tower and the sky is a brilliant orange colour. All the skyscrapers are back lit by this enormous disc. It just makes my heart miss a beat. Just by way of contrast my other choice is Blythburgh Church seen from the A12 travelling towards Lowestoft. This is a wonderful, almost mystical view at any time of day - but especially early in the morning with mist drifting from the river, or again at twilight. This has the atmosphere that is medieval and so satisfying.

Tell me your favourite views.

The Breakdown of Society?

David Cameron has recently announced that society is on the point (if not entirely beyond the point) of dissolving in the United Kingdom. My question really is: How do these incredibly young children get hold of the guns that they are using with such impunity at the moment? Is it so easy for someone to text a mate who will rent them an adapted gun to take out an enemy or if they are in need of protection? Where do they get the money from as well? Now as to the manors or zones that these young children are frightened to leave - they can't get on a bus that goes into the 'wrong' area.

Parents need to be providing a much more secure and structured environment for their children - they need to make sure that they know where their children are, who they are with and what they are doing.

I live in London, and so far I've not seen any trouble or evidence of it - but I'm assured it is out there.

Are we really anti-American?

Now I was drifting through some other blogs and came across one from an American visiting London who was complaining how aggressively anti-American the Londoners they were meeting turned out to be. Perhaps the arrangement of flags shown above has something to do with it. I think during the Blair years many people in Britain were appalled by the devoted way our Prime Minister followed George W in every aspect of his policies - especially in the Middle East. The way British forces were sucked into conflict has coloured the views of many Brits about Americans. As usual though perhaps we are confusing the people with the government.

I do think though that American Imperialism is at the back of some of the prejudices about Americans. Alot of Britons think American imperialism extends to every aspect of their lives - films, books, music, commerce, finance, business and politics. But then the British cannot really decide where they are - an independent country or part of Europe or the 51st state on the United States!

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1500 Visitors

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Is it time I did my Top Ten books & films for 2007?

Foot & Mouth

It would seem that the latest outbreak of Foot & Mouth disease in Surrey stems from a nearby animal experimentation and research facility. I bet the farming community will get very worked up if that turns out to be the case. Five years ago things were very different. Maybe it is a feature of the new Prime Minister but the government seems so much more on the case - Gordon Brown & Hilary Benn returned from holidays, instant action about movements and isolation, and the farming community seem impressed. Just an aside - interesting that Gordon Brown was on holiday in Dorset - no trips to visit the Bee Gees or Cliff Richard for him! In 2002 some of the problems were down to farmers themselves moving animals around, continuing with markets and farm shows, and generally ignoring advice. Lets hope it doesn't come to huge pyres of burning animals this time.

Yet More Floods - and Worse to Come

This is a picture of Newbury Station - passed to me by a friend. Between the two platforms can be dimly seen the tracks of the mainline between London Paddington and the West Country. I lived in the Newbury area for much of the 1970s. I don't recall the station being flooded during my time there. There are some very strange features to the weather this year. At the moment its raining again in London and the surge in water around Oxford should be continuing down the Thames to reach London about midday on Wednesday. Should I be panic buying in Tesco's by now? I don't think I could cope with now mains electricity or water for a week or more - how they are coping in Cheltenham, Upton, Tewkesbury and Gloucester?

Hope it stops raining soon and the rivers go down as soon as possible. Meanwhile can we really blame the government for lack of preparedness, after all it has rained the equivalent of month in a few hours, and no flood barriers could have coped.

Polls

On my film blog I've now added a weekly poll. Why not go visit! (Access via my complete profile!)

The Letter - Somerset Maugham

Starring Jenny Seagrove and Anthony Andrews at Wyndham's Theatre in Leicester Square. Firstly I'll mention that the theatre was pleasant and intimate, good leg room (always important) although there are so many stairs!

Now, Somerset Maugham is another underated playwright, probably because he appears, superficially to be of his time and class - forever writing about colonial situations - and from the perspective of the 1980s and 90s appearing old fashioned and racist. However, now that we're in the twenty first century attitudes to him and his work have changed - I wrote a bit about this in my film review of 'The Painted Veil' another adaptation of a Somerset Maugham novel. (Go to my complete profile and look at the bottom for the films blog, and go through my archives). Here again we're in the Far East - this time in Malaya. It opens with a death - the Jenny Seagrove character (played by Bette Davis in the film version) has shot Geoff Hammond - six times. She explains that the man had tried to rape her and she shot him in her determination to protect herself. Her husband was away in Singapore for a few days. Anthony Andrews plays the lawyer brought in to defend her - although the British colonial view is that the man was a cad and a bounder and any right thinking white man would support the 'plucky girl' who used a gun to 'shoot the bounder like a dog'. This view is re-enforced when it is found that Geoff Hammond has been living with a Chinese girl - clearly he had broken every possible rule, and was possibly insane, with lust and passion. Naturally things are not quite as they seem - a letter is found which casts a totally different light on things, and Anthony Andrews decides to buy the note to prevent his client from going to the gallows, and to protect her husband from scandal.

Maugham is examining the relationship between the rulers and the ruled, attitudes to race and class. Maugham never portrays the native populations as unintelligent or quiescent. They behave with dignity, amusement and ridicule the foolishness of their colonial masters. The writer is also looking at the lack of comprehension in marriage - Jenny Seagrove's husband clearly knows nothing about his wife - her feelings and emotions. Anthony Andrews too underestimates his Chinese Clerk's cleverness. He is examining relationships and moods in a tightly knit isolated community where the superficial social norms hide depths of passions. Social convention is hideously stultifying.

The acting in this play was excleent - the minor characters were especially good - even the silent servants (the houseboys who overheard the conversations, and watched the behaviour of their masters with wonderful expressions). Jenny Seagrove was outstanding, as she wheedled her way through Anthony Andrews defences to save her own skin. Anthony Andrews' delivery was bizarre in places, and I almost became irritated as he barked out his lines, but overall a memorable performance. If you think you'll know this if you've seen the film - this play doesn't end in the same way.

I enjoyed this play and it deserves a rating of 8/10

Changes at the Top?

One interesting 'new' feature of the Brown government is that announcements of government policy appear to be now being made directly to Parliament. Why is this new? Well for many years the habit had developed that a new policy would be heavily trailed in the press on TV and radio. This would be followed by the 'speech' being released to the media. There would be inevitable appearance of the appropriate minister or spokesman on the 'Today' programme, GMTV, all channels for Breakfast news programmes, 'Woman's Hour', 'The World At One', The Jeremy Vine Programme, The Daily Politics, and then by the time everyone had gone through the entire thing it would be announced in the House of Commons to about three MPs. John Denham made a statement to MPs without this usual preliminary distribution, and now ministers are telling John Humphreys 'I can't discuss this before I make the announcement to Parliament'. Excellent stuff. Gordon Brown then made a summer statement outlining what may well go into the Queen's Speech to allow some discussion before the Bills are drawn up. Sounds like a step forward to me. I'm also pleased to hear that the idea of the Supercasino may well be dead. Good for you Gordon. He's not likely to be so chummy with George Bush either.

Thank you!

To the 1400 visitors that have visited my site. Remember I have FOUR blogs - this one, another on films, one on the books I've read, and on The Archers. Reach them all via my complete profile (click on the link to the right).

Amir Khan's Victory

Now I'm not a great fan of boxing (nor of any sport really) but there is something interesting about young talented boxer Amir Khan.

I think most people were disappointed that he 'went professional' instead of going on with an amateur career that would have led to a British medal at the Beijing Olympics.

However, it was good to see him win his first major professional title last evening - and at a local arena as well (well local to me that is!)

I wonder if his popularity stems from his quiet confidence, but somewhat modest behaviour, and the fact that he somehow epitomises the belief that hard work, focus and politeness can still achieve greatness. Is it true that only the bad guys are winners? Amir Khan seems to disprove the assertion.

Passendale

Today there were ceremonies to mark the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of Passendale. The Queen went to the biggest of all the British Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemeteries, Tyne Cot (pictured above). Over twenty years ago I went to this battlefield and the memory of the seemingly endless rows of simple headstones is so moving. Looking at the ages of many of those commemorated - those who died in this terrible of battles is hard to bear. Worse still is the huge wall containing the names of those who died, but whose remains have never been found or identified. When a previous royal visit went to this cemetery 85 years ago he declared it to be one of the most compelling arguments against war - and in favour of peace.

BBC in trouble

So the BBC showed a film which seemed to show that the Queen 'stormed out' of a photo session with an American photographer as a result of being told that her outfit was 'too dressy' (mmm crown, garter robes, various regal orders - too dressy?) and had to change her dress two or three times. This wasn't quite the reality. Oh dear! BBC apologises again.

Great British Victory

For the first time in 20 years a British tennis player has won a Wimbledon Championship. At last we have a tennis victory to celebrate.

Lets not be too carping and say that Jamie Murray needed foreign assistance to achieve victory - lets just rejoice at the fact that a British player can be pictured holding up a trophy!

Perhaps it is all the more sweet because it was unexpected. I'm sure Mr Murray is a good player - but he isn't as well known as his brother - who this year failed to even make the first round. Well done Jamie!

Floods in Hull

Now there is something very strange about this summer's weather. Hull has been especially badly hit by floods, and it seems like it will take months for things to get back to almost normal. There is talk about schools being unable to open for six months or more. I find this very strange - there were terrible floods in Carlisle last year and they seemed to recover fairly quickly. I suspect there will be fundamental difficulties with repairs and construction work, lack of proper insurance cover, and costs of course. However, constant bleating over lack of government money isn't going to help anyone. What is required is a bit more organisation and leadership.

Over 1300 visitors

Thanks to all of those of you who have visited over the past year or more - why not leave a comment on any of the items in my FOUR blogs - to access the others go through my full profile to see them all.

The New Leadership

I have to say I'm immensely pleased that Harriet Harman is to be the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party - my votes obviously made the difference!

On the other hand it now seems very unlikely that she will be Deputy Prime Minister - a job made unique and filled uniquely by John Prescott, who will also stand down on Wednesday. I think Harriet will be the real link to the Labour Party and will help Gordon Brown to get the kind of support from activists that might just about win Labour another term of office. Harriet's campaign was interesting - supporting the achievements of Blair government but admitting the failures - especially over Iraq. She might just about have convinced the hardcore Labour membership that things will get even better over the next couple of years - and without these people to pound the streets to get the vote out then we will end up with a Conservative government.

Gordon Brown needs to do one or two dramatic things in the next month - rather like the liberation of the Bank of England, to quickly stamp his individual mark on the country's consciousness.

Royal Festival Hall

Maybe it isn't great architecture, but there is something wonderful about the Royal Festival Hall. Opened on 3rd June 1951 it is almost exactly my age, and I've been to see many events within these so typically 1950s walls.

It is has just re-opened after a £90 million refit - and so much of the original has been retained, I'm pleased to say. This is really quite a homey building for one so large - and now the neighbouring 1960s/1970s brutalist buildings that surround it almost blend in.

Set beside the Thames it boasts some of the loveliest views of London, and at this time of the year it is a view that rivals any in the world.

Big Brother

There really is something badly wrong with Channel 4 television. Not only do they continue with the appalling Big Brother for most of the day, they propose to show an unsavoury programme about the death of Princess Diana including insensitive pictures in the tunnel where she died. This is 'in the public interest' we're told - but not according to her sons.

How about boycotting this channel - and telling them that you've given up watching anything they produce?

The Rose Tattoo - Tennessee Williams

I went to see the play at the National Theatre. It has a vast cast but the star is Zoe Wanamaker. The cast numbers 35 and includes a chorus of women, a further chorus of children, and a goat (totally live) comes on twice! The set was excellent too - a revolving wooden cabin used to great effect.
The play is not the usual moody Tennessee Williams. It is a vehicle for a tour de force performance by Ms Wanamake. A story about a Scicilian woman in the deep south of the United States who believes she has the perfect husband and a perfect marriage. Naturally this is not true, as she discovers when her husband is killed in suspicious circumstances. She keeps his urn of ashes in front of a shrine to St Mary. A devout, if not fanatical Catholic she believes in miracles (including the appearance of a tattoo of a rose just like the one her husband used to sport at critical moments). After becoming a widow her grief drives her to bizarre behaviour and she cossets her daughter to prevent her falling into sin.
Really this is a stary of delusion - she refuses to accept her husband's infidelity, that her daughter has grown up, that the rose tattoo did not appear at the moment of her daughter's conception, etc.
Zoe is superb, her accent wonderful, and many of the supporting cast are excellent, but some have trouble with the accent - it veers from sub cockney to godfather Italian, New York Jewish to West Coast Hollywood - sometimes in the same sentence!
This was a theatrical occassion - and probably the performance of Zoe's life - she must be exhausted as she is on stage for almost all of the three hours.
My rating: 9/10

Gant's Hill Tube Station

I had reason to pass through Gant's Hill tube station - on the Central line. This is one of those

beautiful 1930s design London Underground Stations - this one by Charles Holden and the barrel vaulting illustrated here is supposed to be inspired by the Moscow Metro stations. (Although having seen the Moscow stations, this isn't nearly as luxurious). There is something tremendously satisfying about these structures. The architecture makes travelling more of an experience. This particular station has a special history. Begun in 1939 work was abandoned with the outbreak of war. However, when a nearby Ilford Aircraft and Munitions factory was damaged it was decided to use the existing tunnels linking Gant's Hill with neighbouring stations as not only an air raid shelter (like many others) but as a manufacturing centre. A railway was introduced and hundreds of people worked away throughout the bombing burrowed away underground. The line finally opened for passengers in 1953.

Signs of Aging

I was listening to 'Loose Ends' on Radio 4 this evening and I was shocked to hear that Marc Almond (famous for Tainted Love) is going to be 50 shortly. This really bothers me - I will always imagine he is just over 20 - but then I'm always surprised to find out that people are my age - I think I look vastly younger than them. Is this just distortion of thought?

Bank Charges

Now I realise that the banks do not have a good reputation and I'm sure some of the charges they are making to their customers appear both excessive and unfair. However, I do think that

there should be some way to ensure that a small number of customers do not totally ignore the agreement they made when they opened their account. Those who
REGULARLY go either overdrawn or flout their overdraft limit should be penalised. Perhaps a seven day

warning should be issued telling those errant customers what they will be charged if they continue above their limit. Equally if you go overdrawn one day and are unaware of the fact banks should not levy a daily charge making the situation worse. I would not be happy though if banks were unable to make any charges to these rogue customers who ignore limits - and then charging the rest of us 'good customers'.

The Bizarre World of Anthony Steen MP

The Totnes MP was in a hurry to catch a train recently and couldn't find a parking space, so he parked in a bay set aside for blue badge holders. He left his car there for THREE DAYS.

Mr Steen was fined for the illegal use of this facility. He is now complaining that the 'handicapped' are given far too many perks, and there shouldn't be so many spaces left for blue badge holders. As a blue badge holder I am really annoyed by the widespread misuse of the badges and the bays set aside for drivers with disabilities. I quite regularly turn up at a shopping centre or town centre car park to find most or all spaces taken - including the 'disabled' bays - and those occupying these bays often do not display a blue badge. I find walking very hard, and often I see people with wheelchairs unable to go to a blue badge bay because they are occupied by seemingly able bodied drivers without a blue badge. Mr Steen is really not setting a very good example - he clearly doesn't realise how hard it is to obtain a legitimate blue badge.

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