Richmond - The Regal Suburb

A bit of Royalty has hit suburbia.

The Royal Barge 'Gloriana' in Richmond Upon Thames

Queen Elizabeth's royal barge, 'Gloriana', has been moored in Richmond Upon Thames for the last few days for some final touches before it takes centre stage for the Diamond Jubilee weekend.

Golden Hinde - replica of the 16th century boat
that circumnavigated the world,
captained by Sir Francis Drake

 On Sunday 3rd June, the Thames Diamond Jubilee River Pageant will begin its seven mile journey in Hammersmith and finish in Greenwich. Flanked by over a thousand other boats, the route will take four hours, and organisers are expecting more than a million people to line the banks of the river.


But why has Liz chosen the Thames for her celebratory parade? The Thames has been a convenient path for trade and transport, and it would seem royalty have a habit of using water to make dramatic entrances (and, in some cases, exits). Richard III was the first monarch to attend his coronation by water in late 15th century, whilst Henry VIII organised an extravagant flotilla of boats for his second wife, Anne Boleyn's coronation. (She was later taken on the same route in quite a different fashion to her execution.)

"And so Havengore sails into history – not even the Golden Hinde has borne

so great a man”

The Thames has also been the setting for more melancholic scenes. Elizabeth I's coffin was transported in a barge draped in black from Richmond to Whitehall in the dead of night, tailed by vessels holding candle-lit vigils in her memory. Admiral Lord Nelson also had his remains carried up the river on a barge draped in black velvet and lavishly decorated with large black plumes, whilst in 1965, Churchill's body was carried on upriver on the Havengore, a vessel that will be part of the procession on 3rd June.

Travelling with Gloriana and the Havengore will be numerous other historical vessels, including the Jubilant, a barge presented to the Queen for her golden jubilee. Considering Her previous river pageant record (She celebrated Her coronation, silver and golden jubilees in a similar manner), it seems particularly fitting to acknowledge her sixty year reign with another.

Jubilant - replica of the 18ths century barge presented to the Queen for her golden jubilee,
made by Mark Edwards in Richmond Upon Thames

Portwey - the only coal-fired steam tug active in the UK

Eilean - a sailing boat famous for her appearance in Duran Duran's 'Rio' video.

Waverley - last sea-going paddle steamer in the world

Restaurant Review: Elysee, Percy Street, W1T

Upstairs Dining Room

Last week, myself and a friend took advantage of the taste card to sample the greek menu that Elysee has to offer.

Just off Tottenham Court Road, this stylish restaurant not only provided a beautifully decorated dining room, but fantastic food and wine. We were greeted by a pleasant and friendly man, who took us upstairs to the roof terrace, where we sat and drank some delicious house white before making out way into the stylish dining room.

A light fitting made from smashed plates

We chose to order a few small dishes and a moussaka to make the most of our Greek eating experience. The spinacopita (spinach and cheese puff pastry triangles) left me wanting more, the breaded whitebait was perfectly cooked, greek meatballs perfectly spiced (if a little gristly), and the moussaka was faultless. The only disappointment was the lack of choice on the menu.

We made friends with the waitress, who told us that over weekends the downstairs part of the restaurant hosts parties that last till the early hours, with live music and plate smashing for all to enjoy! (The restaurant's website says they go through over 25,000 plates a year!)

All in all, what a wonderful eating experience. The personalities of the staff and the exquisite food reminded me of what truly fantastic, unique restaurants are really about, elements that are diluted by chains and fast food outlets.

If you're ever pining for some authentic, greek food, it is well worth going to town.

The Scepticism of The Big Smoke

When a stranger approaches you on a London street to hand you a thousand pounds in cash for picking up someone else's litter, what would you do?

Last week, a wealthy man did exactly that. His project, called Wearelucky., involves the mystery millionaire himself travelling across the globe, handing out a grand in cash to complete strangers - those he sees doing good deeds, or just because they look interesting. The only catch is to do 'good' with the money.

But when he brought this idea to London, giving away the money seemed more difficult than he first anticipated, where many people rejected his money in a distrusting fashion.

Maybe the fact that London is one of the most densely populated cities in the world (A statistic on an underground poster today stated that there is reaching five thousand people per square kilometre) makes Londoners particularly sceptical. The many people who, during a daily commute, ask for their hard earned cash, teamed with horror stories of various pickpocketing and street scams, would make even the most gullible think twice about accepting a wad of cash from a complete stranger.

Living in a populated city like London certainly makes you more streetwise and aware of your surroundings, but despite the masses of people we may walk past or sit opposite on the tube every day, if you decide to strike up a conversation with a fellow commuter, you're greeted with a combination of suspicion and mild terror.

Last week, after a lengthy discussion with a friend about such experiences (and the idea of a man approaching strangers with a grand in hand just for good karma), I decided to strike up a conversation with another woman on the train home. A conversation that lasted all of two minutes, I felt I'd done something nice and personal in what can often be an impersonal town. I never expected this temporary friendship to go any further than the exit of the station, but I was expecting some good karma.

But then things became weird. We went our separate ways, only for the woman to chase me down the road, asking for my name so she could add me on Facebook. Her reasoning? She liked my tights. I was quickly reminded why people do not make friends on public transport, and how, despite the millions of people who live and around London, it can still be the loneliest place on the planet to some.

This must be particularly true for those who do not originally come from the big smoke. A friend of mine just returned from Thailand after a few days of island hopping in the search for rest and relaxation. The day before the flight home, with fingers and toes in the capable hands of a ladyboy nail beautician, a tsunami warning was issued along the entire coast of the island. Everyone was told to get to higher ground.

As they made their way up the hills, a tuk tuk driver pulled up next to them and picks all four of them up, as well as seven Belgians, driving them up into the hills. After weaving in and out of manic traffic, they pull up at a hut - the man's home. Both himself and his wife make them all comfortable in their living room and whilst they wait for some news, food and drink is prepared for their new-found guests.

Thankfully, they all live to tell the tale. The tuk tuk driver returned them all to their relevant accommodation later that night, without demanding any payment or reward.

Whilst Londoners can be compassionate in hours of need (there are many heart-wrenching stories from the dark tunnels of 7/7), it seems difficult to believe that we would take eleven strangers off the street, bring them into our homes, feed them, make them comfortable, and ensure they get to their destinations without any more problems. Certainly after the stories of the Wearelucky. millionaire, and my personal attempt at good karma, my reservations may well outweigh any good intentions. Maybe one day that will change.

'Money Can't Buy Life'

19th April 2012

Tomorrow, a film documenting the life of musical legend Bob Marley is released in UK cinemas.

Produced by his son Ziggy Marley, the film uses archival footage and interviews of the man himself and those who were close to him to put together a respectful and fitting homage to the biggest reggae star of all time.

Atleast, that's what many of the rave reviews have said, and is also what I hope. Bob was certainly no angel (it's acknowledged that he has love children dotted around the globe and is rumoured to have countless more, despite his marriage to backing singer Rita Marley), but his laid back attitude and songs about the struggle of black oppression made him an influential musician, creating timeless songs and thought-provoking statements.


With this in mind, there is certainly one thing I will be expecting - an incredible soundtrack. His music speaks for the time he was living in, with hits like Trenchtown Rock, So Much Trouble In The World and, arguably his most famous, Three Little Birds, many of them have become anthems to all ages, speaking of the need for revolution and a faith in the natural order of the world.

The poster boy for Rastafarianism, his religion played a massive part in his life, and also his death. Marley was diagnosed with cancer in 1977 underneath his toe nail, dismissing advice from doctors to have it amputated because of his religious beliefs. He spent the remainder of his life touring the world, playing his music, until the cancer had spread to his lungs and brain, resulting in his death in May 1981. He was 36.

Coach-hella crazy!

17th April 2012

This evening, I have decided to jump on the Coachella Festival bandwagon. For those who are in the dark, Coachella is a music and arts festival located in the Californian desert, and one which has been the subject of much attention amongst hipsters and young celebs. It has even become a topic of discussion on Christwire (you can read the completely accurate and not at all satirical (or satanical) article here.

Most are posting and watching the video of a Tupac hologram. This seems far removed from the festival scene I have become accustomed to, one which involved music, dj sets and  impressive shows performed by real, live people. Whilst the technological advances are nothing short of spectacular, it is difficult to get beyond the thought that this is transparent money-making (in more ways than one), allowing music moguls to feed off his name through some clever graphics and pre-recorded songs.

It's a weird tainting of the music business. Technology seeps into the way in which music is edited and shared with the masses. It's brought us auto-tuning, Justin Bieber (who's followers call themselves Beliebers. There's no salvation for some) and, when auto-tuning and Youtube are combined, something completely different yet brilliant...like this.

Obviously, it has it's benefits. With people able to share their music in just a couple of clicks, it's never been easier to access whatever music you want, whilst Twitter enables us all to follow our musical idols and find the latest tracks and songs by our favourite artists. But it also means that the deluded masses are able to share their talents too. (Rebecca Black's pre-weekend chant has forever stained that friday feeling for myself and I'm sure many more.)

So, as someone who does not get along with technology (I haven't had a properly working phone since my mobile phone career began way back in the early years of secondary school, and laptop history has hardly been simple either), I'm not looking for holograms to entertain me at festivals. If I wanted an image rather than the real thing, I'd watch a video on Youtube.

Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three

29th March 2012

What a beautiful sunny week so far eh? Perfect weather for an afternoon of drinking in the sun by the river, followed by some American roots fun in the beautiful settings of Bush Hall.

On Monday night, myself and a few friends went to see Pokey Lafarge and the South City Three, made up of Joe Glynn on bass, Adam Hoskins on guitar, and Ryan Koenig on the harmonica and other household appliances. 

The whiskey was in full flow and the hall was packed with an eclectic crowd, ranging from middle-aged men and women who'd seen them on Jools Holland's Hootenanny last year, deep-south Americans and us, the twenty-somethings. When the band began their set, the crowd were frustratingly stagnant - but when they started playing their better known songs, like Drinkin' Whiskey Tonight (as seen on the Jools Holland clip) and La La Blues, they came to life. Even a fight broke out and the perpetrator was escorted out of the building. Rock and roll. 

Shortly after, Pokey calmed everyone down with an acoustic track called Josephine (a video from the night in question) and at the end of the night, after some heavy cheering from the crowd, the guys came back for an encore. 

As for the South City Three, what a bunch of dudes. The guitarist, Adam, knocked out some great solos,  and the bassist, Joe, rocks some rather impressive sideburns and this 'strong, silent type' demeanour. But it was Ryan, the harmonica maestro, who stole the show. Not only did he make me want to buy a harmonica the next day and move to the deep south, but it was his skills with a washboard that blew me away. He too was rocking some great sideburns, and a cowboy hat and waistcoat.

After the gig, instead of chilling out backstage, the band wandered into the front foyer to greet their fans, sign some posters and have a few photos taken. They were happy to chat to anyone, and when we bumped into them in a bar up the road, Pokey said hello again, remembering our names and seeming genuinely pleased to be chatting to us. It was refreshing to see a band so pleased to interact with their fans without a publicist forcing them into it.

Pokey, Myself, my pal Charlie, and Adam.

All in all, what a fun and charming Monday night. They're playing there again on Thursday, so if you happen to be in West London, I would highly recommend wandering down to try and bag yourself a night of Whiskey-induced swing. 

The Return of The Apprentice

Lord Sugar is back. On 21st March, The Apprentice is hitting our television screens once again. If you share the same sentiment as my Dad by thinking the show is a clever way for Alan to raise his profile and make more money, you would be right.

Despite this, I have been a fan of it since the very beginning, when the applicants all actually wanted to work for Sir Alan and had a genuine passion for business. Remember the original apprentice winner, Tim? He was the nice guy who came out of the intense questioning and scrutiny in the final interviews to beat horrendously annoying Saira. (She went on to present a kids' programme called 'The Boss' which was awful anyway, and not helped by her embarrassingly bad interactions with the kids involved)  He was the first and last winner I thought was deserving of the job. From then on, each series had your token wanker, tough-childhood-self-made success, public school boy, wannabe television personality and then the arrogant, delusional one. (Step forward Stuart Baggs - The Brand. 'I'm not a one trick pony, I'm not a ten trick pony, I've got a whole field of ponies.' The less said about Baggs, the better.)

Throughout the years, there's been many candidates of note, like Katie Hopkins, boardroom bitch of the third series, notably remembered for her eclipse-inducing nose, who then went on to star in a scandalous spread in the tabloids after being photographed having sex in a country field. Sounds like the perfect sweetener for Sugar's business dealings.

And before that, there was my personal favourite, Ruth Badger, or 'The Badger' to her fans. An excellent saleswoman who held her own in the boardroom, she was beaten by an 'I've had a shit life and look where I am now' routine from Michelle Dewberry (who, subsequently, left her job at Amstrad after only a few months.. Poor choice there Alan).

But the best bit about the Apprentice nowadays is not the brutal actions of those in a highly-stressful and highly-critical environment, but the half hour show on BBC2, hosted now by the amazing Dara O'Briain, who tears apart these egos in front of a studio audience and a panel of 'experts'. There's nothing like a bit of poetic justice. Now, not only is their cruel and cringe-worthy behaviour inflicted on the viewing public, but it is forced upon the perpetrator, who then is put in the awkward position of justifying why you 'never say never in the biscuit world'... Now that takes the... ahem, moving on.

Next Wednesday is the night where it starts all over again and I cannot wait.

Phony Kony?

8th March 2012

I don't know about you, but this morning I woke up with a savage Kony hangover. My head is spinning, and I'm wondering what the hell happened yesterday.

What started out as a well-made and cleverly put together short film about hunting down a Ugandan dictator spiralled into chaos and controversy as the charity behind it, Invisible Children, had its motives called into question almost immediately.

Doubters were posting links all over Facebook and other social networks, one blog in particular featuring heavily. Even if you weren't interested in Konygate, it was forced upon you like some lecherous old man. The person behind this blog has appeared to do a U-Turn after IC posted this response to the critiques. (I would like to take this opportunity to point out that it is futile to respond to an internet video with statistics from a website. Both have their motives, and those stats can just as easily be manipulated as the information in the original video.)

It was like one kid trying to convince the playground to buy their painted rocks for charity and the other accusing him of spending the money on sweets while the rest just want to get on with their game of stuck in the mud and marco polo. I do think the idea and motive behind the video is powerful and one to take note of. Using social networking to promote their cause is a very clever way of accessing the large population of social-networkers and encouraging them to make a stand without actually having to stand up from their desks. People said that a charity who uses Facebook to gain momentum should never be trusted, but look at what they've managed to achieve in the space of 24 hours. Their video states they want to raise awareness and get people talking about Kony and that is exactly what has happened. It is quite refreshing to see the online community so alive with something that is more worthwhile than trolling others and discussing how awful one's dress was at the party last weekend.

As much as I think there is much to criticise about Invisible Children, I'm edging towards the support side of the argument, as a result of either willing and wishing them to be admirable charity workers, or whether the motive of wading into Uganda and catching the bad guy is appealing to my idealistic side. Either way, I'm all Kony'ed out. I'm never Konying again. Now, where's the paracetamol...

Latitude with Attitude

5th March 2012

So folks, the Latitude line-up has been released, alongside tickets going on sale, and I must say it looks damn tasty. Not only am I excited by the headliners - Bon Iver and Paul 'the Modfather' Weller - but there's loads of other acts that are making me salivate.

Plenty of bands, like Alabama Shakes (previously featured on Subtle Tea), Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Buena Vista Social Club are making appearances, along with SBTRKT, Simple Minds, Michael Kiwanuka and Daryl Hall of that dynamic duo Hall and Oates. Even sexy Coxy's out of this world band, The Infinite Monkey Cage, will be treating festival-goers to some 'hard rock' interrupted by mini lectures about how much energy the sun emits using everyday apparatus. Who said Physics wasn't cool.

There are also excellent comedians doing their bit to contribute to the good old English festival experience. Tim Minchin, Reggie D Hunter, Jack Dee and Rich Hall are just a few fighting their corner in The Comedy Arena, and there's even a slot for the tall teacher from the Inbetweeners, Greg Davies (recently seen sporting an ill-fitted shirt on the BBC's Live At The Apollo). Rich Hall is also having a 'hoedown' in the Cabaret Arena, guaranteed to get even the most stonefaced of festival goers laughing.

And yet, there's more. For those literary souls, There's Poetry and Literary Arenas, featuring guests such as Iain Banks (The Wasp Factory, The Crow Road), Benjamin Zephaniah (Refugee Boy), Mark Haddon (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time) and even an appearance from superstar teacher/rapper/spoken poet Mark Grist, who you may remember tearing apart a 17 year old student in this rather fetching video.

You can check out the full line up here.

In other news, a huge fox was shot by a farmer in Aberdeenshire last night. Take a look at this. What the fox is going on in Scotland.

Paws for Thought..

27th February 2012

Today is International Polar Bear Day. Was anyone aware of this? Anyone at all? I love it when days like this happen, when you have International Tea Appreciation Day or International Hug a Ukrainian Day or International Speak Like A Pirate Day. I hug my only Ukrainian friend every time I see her (thanks to this marvellous day) and I regularly count my blessings that I have such a tasty hot beverage to enjoy on a daily basis. So thank you, whoever you aaarrrrrgh out there who makes these strange holidays. You really enrich my life.

I am taking this excellent opportunity to talk about this animal, not only because it seems fitting to talk about it today (because its International Polar Bear Day, did I mention that?) but also because David Attenborough's Frozen Planet series made me a little obsessive. Imagine Dave reading these following facts to you and I have little to do to keep your interest. (Some of these will also be great to bring up at the pub and make you look really cool and educated. I'd look at it as an investment into your pub chat.)

1. They look white, but these badass bears are in fact black. They're skin is black so they can absorb any heat that radiates from the sun, and their outer fur is transparent and reflect light just like snow and ice does, making them appear white.
2. They can sniff out seals and other meaty meals from over a mile away, and spend the majority of their lives living on the edge of the sea ice so they have much more opportunity to seal the deal on dinner. 
3. Apparently, their success at hunting for food shows that they are just as intelligent as apes, and have been witnessed stacking plastic piping in a heap as part of a game.
4. The posture of a polar bear and it's resemblance to a human when skinned is said to have contributed to the Inuit folklore that bears are really just humans that dress as polar bears when they leave they're homes.. I'll let you make your own decision on this one.
5. The most famous polar bear (in my view) is called Noah from 'Noah's Island', the kid's TV programme about a group of animals on a floating island. (Sacha was always my favourite, I used to love this programme. The opening title gives me nostalgic goosebumps.) There was also Knut, the baby polar bear in Berlin Zoo that died last year.. What a Knutter.

For a charming set of photographs from the Guardian, click here, and for further information and cute pictures these fantastic brutes, go to the Polar Bears International website.

My Best Sunday at Sunday Best

13th February 2012

This evening, I am considering breaking my own vow to write a banal post about my life. I'm not sure whether it's because the weekend just gone was one that tickled my fancy, or that I don't find myself particularly inspired by the death of a crack-addicted warbler and the gushing tributes/drug-hating hype that follows. In all honesty, I have been waiting for an opportunity to brag about my new career as a superstar DJ. But first, let me take you back to Thursday and a night at Alexandra Palace.

For those who are unaware (I doubt there will be many of you) The Black Keys are a rock duo from Ohio, and spent their Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings playing to sold out crowds at the Ally Pally. I'm a relatively recent fan, only discovering them after their 'Brothers' album in 2010 and their latest 'El Camino' album, which was released last year. (Clearly I still have far to go, considering Wikipedia had to tell me they have seven albums. Oops.) After a cheeky pint in The Famous Cock in Islington (wipe that smirk off your face) we made our way through a snowy North London to the venue. Song after song, banger after banger, they did not disappoint, and the oversized disco ball during their encore was a much appreciated addition.

And then the snow hit with a vengeance. Outside was covered and the heavens were still going. No trains running, and buses being abandoned, it took us three hours to get home.

Friday was uneventful, Saturday was spent in the pub with pals watching the rugby, and then it was Sunday. I'd received an email on Thursday night from an organisation called Stick It On - I had won a fifteen minute DJ slot at an event called 'Sunday Best'. The idea behind the 'Stick It On' service is to allow people with no DJ experience to have a shot at it for fifteen minutes of fame. Not only was it in bloody cool Camden, but it was in the bloody cool Lock Tavern, a bloody cool pub. Then I found out people like Rob da Bank and Dan Le Sac were playing, all too bloody cool for me.

It was great fun. The pub was packed and I was the final 'Stick It On' DJ before Dan Le Sac took to the decks (I can say things like that now I'm a bloody cool superstar DJ).

Then it was home by 9, bed by 11, and the library the next day. I'm so rock and roll it hurts.

On top of the World?

29th January 2011

It turns out, it's a little chilly in Chile. Scientists have sacrificed the warmth and oxygen of life at normal altitude for stargazing at 2,500 metres above sea level. Chapped lips, breathlessness and nausea have become a part of their fortnightly trips up Mount Paranal in northern Chile to work at the European Southern Observatory. Jonathan Smoker (professional stargazer, stupidly cool name) has personally experienced the extremes of a dry environment:

'You really feel it when you've been here a long time... Sometimes my hands start to bleed because it's so dry here.'

It turns out, work can actually make you sick, all in the name of human discovery. The lightweight atmosphere provides astronomers with the perfect setting for looking into space and now they're taking us even closer to the action, building the Atacama Large Millimetre/Submillimetre Array (Alma) telescope 5,000 metres above sea level, near the Bolivian border in the Andes mountain range. This incredible technology will allow these space invaders to see into parts of the universe that were previously hidden by space dust (the solar variety, not the popping candy).

Seeing as I'm a lowly enthusiast, I'll leave it to a professional, John Richer, University of Cambridge lecturer and a project scientist for Alma, to explain:

"When a star forms, it forms in cold, dusty gas clouds. The moment it's formed it's shrouded in this dusty material, out of which only half of the light from a typical star escapes. Many other stars are formed in very dense clouds and their light is completely absorbed by the dust in these clouds."

The Alma telescope will be able to detect the radiation emitted by this dust when it is heated by nearby stars, therefore revealing previously unseen galaxies. When fully functional (completion is set for 2013), it is expected to unveil a new galaxy every three minutes, yet another show of the eternal human quest for knowledge and impressive technological development. 

For a much more intelligent write up on the Guardian website of this mind-blowing adventure, click here. 

In the mean time, watch the space.. literally.

Blackout!

19th January 2011

I always love a good protest, particularly one I can take part in from the comfort of my own home.

Today, thousands of sites have taken part in a 'blackout' move of defiance against the SOPA (and PIPA) bills. Ironically enough, I've used one of these sites to provide definitions of both. (Even more ironically, my good friends in Brixton ended their day yesterday with an actual black out.. spooky.) Initially, I turned to Wikipedia for clarification of the death of a notorious Italian director (after reading this rather heart-warming Telegraph article), and found myself faced with a black screen and small, formal looking text. I thought to myself 'Finally! They've had enough of everyone ignoring their pleas for money at the tops of their pages.' Then I took note of the message they were imposing on me. At the same time, my good friend showed me this rather thought provoking press release from The Pirate Bay. Here is my favourite bit.

''The reason they are always complaining about "pirates" today is simple. We've done what they did. We circumvented the rules they created and created our own. We crushed their monopoly by giving people something more efficient. We allow people to have direct communication between each other, circumventing the profitable middle man, that in some cases take over 107% of the profits (yes, you pay to work for them). It's all based on the fact that we're competition. We've proven that their existence in their current form is no longer needed. We're just better than they are.

And the funny part is that our rules are very similar to the founding ideas of the USA. We fight for freedom of speech. We see all people as equal. We believe that the public, not the elite, should rule the nation. We believe that laws should be created to serve the public, not the rich corporations.''

They go on to explain that Hollywood justifies their complaints by saying that they provide us consumer folk with 'culture'. This leads to one quite obvious question: If all Hollywood wants to provide is culture, then why stop the majority of the public from accessing these beneficial works of art? If movies as intelligent and mindblowing as Cowboys and Aliens or those deemed necessary in the name of 'art' (such as those mentioned in the Telegraph) are classed as 'culture', then please, please, I beg you, let them pass this law. The less I see of Keira Knightley and Richard 'silver-haired fox here to save hopeless woman again' Gere the better.

A Festive Thought..

28th December 2011


I have always loved Christmas. Without a doubt, it is my favourite time of year. But after a month of beating family and friends into submission of at least a little festive cheer, it would seem that I am in the minority. And the more I think about it, the more I understand. 


For Christians, it's pretty obvious what Christmas is all about, so why is it so important for us non-religious folk? 


For the cynics and the business men and women, the festive period is a time to take advantage of good will and generosity, to encourage shoppers to dig deep and buy things that are essential to anyone's Christmas. Actually, it may come as some surprise that no, I do not need yet another dressing gown or miniature figurine of a safari animal. This capitalist, materialistic aspect to December makes it easy to understand why most despair as the festive adverts flood our screens, screaming at you to buy the latest fad or your son or daughter will be the laughing stock of the playground.


For others, it's kindness and thoughtful acts that define the festive period. A friend of mine commutes into Waterloo and buys an espresso from a coffee stall near the exit. One day during the run up to Christmas, a woman in front of him bought two hot chocolates, walked down the steps and gave one of them to a homeless person outside the station, wished him a 'merry Christmas', and went on her way.


(Now for the soppy bit. If the previous day's drinking has left you feeling queezy, I would be cautious about reading on..) For me, Christmas is about much more than presents and the birth of a religious icon. It gives us a chance to remember who and what is important in life. For some, getting the latest game for the Xbox is important, but for me, it's being surrounded by family and friends, eating cracking food, and watching heartwarming films by the fire (find your nearest puke points now). Merry Christmas to all!

The Genius of Everyday Things

10th November 2011

A new exhibition opened this week at one of my favourite places when I was a child - the Science Museum in London. It focuses on the 'hidden heroes' in our culture, the forgotten achievements in engineering and development that we take for granted today. Revealing clever design behind mundane objects such as the paperclip, or the tea bag (for which I am forever grateful), for me this exhibition acts as a reminder of what we as a race can and have achieved, with even the smaller breakthroughs contributing to everyday life.

Visitors have the opportunity to look at original drawings by the inventors, and random facts and tales that are behind some of the products. (Did you know that Napoleon played a part in the development of the tin can? No, me neither.)


'At a time when celebrity is king, it gives all of us at the Science Museum enormous satisfaction to celebrate the truly uncelebrated and shine a light on a group of outstanding inventions and inventors, revealing the supposedly mundane to be nothing short of remarkable.' (Dr Susan Mossman, materials science specialist at the Science Museum.)


I couldn't have put it better myself (which is probably why they've put it on their website). The exhibition is open till the beginning of June (you can book tickets here), and £6 entry is a bargain to have a rare opportunity to celebrate human success. For those unable to get themselves down to the best museum in town, the Hidden Heroes website has most of the exhibition material and products for all to browse.

Shake your money maker

28th September 2011

Late last night, a friend of mine posted a video on his Facebook profile of a BBC News interview with a trader. I'm not normally one for watching posted videos, most of them are boring self-indulgent attempts at an ego boost from their friends, but it takes a good title or intriguing freeze frame of said video to draw me in.

I am still undecided about how thankful I am that I watched the footage this evening. I was left feeling... well, speechless. And then quite a few things hit me at once.

The first thing that surprised me was how candid and honest this man was about traders and his own dishonest intentions. In such uncertain times, one would assume that nobody would admit to dreaming of making money from other people's misfortune, and I was not the only one (see BBC news article link below).  But those people are out there, and I certainly needed to be reminded that actually, everything may not work out.

Then I thought about why it was so unbelievable for someone to be honest on the news. I've always thought audiences were used to the bad and negative news, so I was surprised why people were questioning how genuine this guy was. Then I realised that we are not used to being told bad news in a simple, straight-talking format.
If this collapse is unavoidable as suggested by Allessio Rastani, and people will lose their savings by the end of the year, then a part of me is relieved not have any significant finance to my name.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15078419

The Big History

13th September, 2011


I was shown this video the other day and I found it a very thought-provoking lecture.


I was only made aware of this 'TED: Ideas for sharing' website recently, a place full of fascinating and enlightening conferences about various ways of life that we take for granted.


This particular talk has stuck in my mind for days. There's so much in it that I feel is forgotten or unknown to many but important to all. I've often thought that history is essential to any successful progression as a race. History provides us with that double-edged sword: hindsight. I always think its important to know how we, as a race, have got this far. It's easy to forget how much we have achieved on this planet and even the most intricate of systems are taken for granted, like the national grid or our sewage system. Where would we be without electricity in the age of the internet, or sanitation in an era of health and safety mania? Our success is down to human nature, the thirst to know, and the ability to carry this learning into the future, thus, accumulating knowledge.


However, abuse of these integral systems jeopardise the 'goldilocks conditions' that David Christian speaks about in this video. Just as it is easy to forget the achievements of the human race, it is also easy to forget how fragile our planet is, and how minor changes in environment and chemical make-up have led to the planet we are able to inhabit.


This leads me to believe that it can't be just luck that has created this intricate eco-system out of nothing. It is difficult to comprehend that each of us are a result of a chemical reaction gone wrong, that there really is no meaning to life. But if this is true, why has a chemical reaction led to us searching for it?


After all, life is surely more than just exotic chemistry.

(Video taken from youtube, but you can watch the original on the TED website here)




For more information on Big History, visit their website.