Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 40
October 13, 2015
Inspiring Bond Moments
This month has seen SPECTRE and Gillette launch their global partnership. Gillette’s campaign focuses on the “Bond Moments” in every man’s life, inspired by the creator and author of James Bond, Ian Fleming. Fleming’s powerful and poetic words form the foundation of the campaign which encourages men to feel confident and look their best so they are prepared for their own “Bond Moment”.
To celebrate the partnership with SPECTRE, Gillette has created a very special film which you can see here, now, thanks to our partnership with Gillette.
And to help you prepare for your own "Bond Moment" a special limited edition SPECTRE/Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor with FlexBall Technology gift pack is also available in stores nationwide now.
SPECTRE, the 24th James Bond adventure, from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, will be released in the UK on October 26.
To celebrate the partnership with SPECTRE, Gillette has created a very special film which you can see here, now, thanks to our partnership with Gillette.
And to help you prepare for your own "Bond Moment" a special limited edition SPECTRE/Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor with FlexBall Technology gift pack is also available in stores nationwide now.
SPECTRE, the 24th James Bond adventure, from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment, will be released in the UK on October 26.
October 8, 2015
This Be The Verse
Today is National Poetry Day and, as a tribute to the university librarian of my erstwhile alma mater, to the nominal parenting theme of this blog as well a to a damn good poem, here's Philip Larkin reading 'This be the Verse'.
WARNING: Contains what some people still refer to rather coyly as 'language'.
Larkin, of course, took his own advice and did 'get out' as quickly as he could and avoided having kids himself. But there's a serious lesson here for those of us, I would argue, more fortunate in our family circumstances. Parenting isn't easy and no matter how experienced we are, we can all slip into bad habits.
The best we parents can hope for, really, is not to f**k our children up.
Have you got a favourite poem for National Poetry Day?
WARNING: Contains what some people still refer to rather coyly as 'language'.
Larkin, of course, took his own advice and did 'get out' as quickly as he could and avoided having kids himself. But there's a serious lesson here for those of us, I would argue, more fortunate in our family circumstances. Parenting isn't easy and no matter how experienced we are, we can all slip into bad habits.
The best we parents can hope for, really, is not to f**k our children up.
Have you got a favourite poem for National Poetry Day?
October 7, 2015
No news is good news
Here is the news: the main headline is something that hasn't actually happened yet. The second item is what we think someone might say later. And, in other news, something interesting that happened twenty years ago today...
And now, the weather.
I sometime think news bulletins are only like this at five a.m. because nothing much has happened (yet) and it's natural to look to the day ahead. But no. They're the same throughout the rest of the day - bulletins padded with endless analysis and comment and conjecture and (from the telly people) correspondents reporting from all sorts of unsuitable locations just so you can see that they're 'there', they're where the action is. Except, most of the time, there isn't any.
I often wonder why they bother. I've given up watching the news on the telly, as it's such a waste of (usually) half an hour. And when I'm drowsily coming to to the radio at five-twenty in the morning I'd rather hear the BBC Radio Four theme instead of the endless speculation and conjecture that masquerades as 'News Briefing'...
Still, at least no news is good news if you like finding out what happened on this day years ago. They've got to fill the bulletin with something. And if the day's too young to have news of its own, well - fill the airtime with a bit of history. And, it so happens, today was a particularly interesting day...
... in 1932 when the London Philharmonic Orchestra made it’s debut;
or when in 1986 The Independent newspaper was first published;
or even 14 years ago when the invasion of Afghanistan took place.
That was a success, wasn't it?
And today - and this really is news - we hear of Russian forces gathering on the border of war-torn Syria.
Talk about history - and the news - repeating itself!
And now, the weather.
I sometime think news bulletins are only like this at five a.m. because nothing much has happened (yet) and it's natural to look to the day ahead. But no. They're the same throughout the rest of the day - bulletins padded with endless analysis and comment and conjecture and (from the telly people) correspondents reporting from all sorts of unsuitable locations just so you can see that they're 'there', they're where the action is. Except, most of the time, there isn't any.
I often wonder why they bother. I've given up watching the news on the telly, as it's such a waste of (usually) half an hour. And when I'm drowsily coming to to the radio at five-twenty in the morning I'd rather hear the BBC Radio Four theme instead of the endless speculation and conjecture that masquerades as 'News Briefing'...
Still, at least no news is good news if you like finding out what happened on this day years ago. They've got to fill the bulletin with something. And if the day's too young to have news of its own, well - fill the airtime with a bit of history. And, it so happens, today was a particularly interesting day...
... in 1932 when the London Philharmonic Orchestra made it’s debut;
or when in 1986 The Independent newspaper was first published;
or even 14 years ago when the invasion of Afghanistan took place.
That was a success, wasn't it?
And today - and this really is news - we hear of Russian forces gathering on the border of war-torn Syria.
Talk about history - and the news - repeating itself!
October 4, 2015
Win a £150 Gift Card from Smyth’s
The unbeatable combination of Lego and Scooby Doo comes to Bringing up Charlie today. First with a collection of amazing Scooby-Doo stop motion videos created using the brand new LEGO Scooby-Doo sets! There are half a dozen on the site at present, and new videos will be uploaded weekly – so be sure to visit ScoobyDoo.com and subscribe to the WB Kids YouTube channel to keep up-to-date.
And that's not all - at present there's this great gift-voucher giveaway for Smyth's Toys - which is worth one hell of a lot of Lego.
Now, where did I put my Scooby snack?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And that's not all - at present there's this great gift-voucher giveaway for Smyth's Toys - which is worth one hell of a lot of Lego.
Now, where did I put my Scooby snack?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 1, 2015
DC Kids Super Hero Creator & UK Giveaway
Want to win an amazing toy gift basket that includes Teen Titans Go Action Figures & T-Tower Set, a Batman Unlimited Action Figure, DC Super Friends Gift Set and Batmobile? Who wouldn't? And how about a chance to create your ultimate super hero with a fun name, look, powers and more?
You can do both, thanks to the new DC Kids Super Here Creator Game and the amazing UK Giveaway (see below).
And while you're waiting why not check out some of the amazing new videos from Warner Bros, including favourites such as Scooby Doo www.scoobydoo.com as well as Batman Unlimited www.dckids.com. And there will be plenty more being added over the next year, so don't forget to subscribe to their channels!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can do both, thanks to the new DC Kids Super Here Creator Game and the amazing UK Giveaway (see below).
And while you're waiting why not check out some of the amazing new videos from Warner Bros, including favourites such as Scooby Doo www.scoobydoo.com as well as Batman Unlimited www.dckids.com. And there will be plenty more being added over the next year, so don't forget to subscribe to their channels!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 29, 2015
Rich Autumn Days
A little sunshine, blue skies again, and it feels like autumn, like a proper season, the mists-and-mellow-fruitfulness-Keats-kind. At school, it's the harvest festival. Charlie has been given a poem to memorise. I like that, though I don't think much of the poem!
Here - should you, like me, lament the passing of poetry memorisation and wish to program a few choice words into your little one's head the better to return, unbidden, in the years to come and give them countless joys - is a better one. It's by the Dorset poet W.H.Davies. It's not high art (not quite Keats, for sure) but it's well-crafted and pleasant and... memorable. I have. And I find the words coming back into my head at this time of year. Especially when the sun shines:
Rich Days
WELCOME to you rich Autumn days,
Ere comes the cold, leaf-picking wind;
When golden stocks are seen in fields,
All standing arm-in-arm entwined;
And gallons of sweet cider seen
On trees in apples red and green.
With mellow pears that cheat our teeth,
Which melt that tongues may suck them in;
With blue-black damsons, yellow plums,
Now sweet and soft from stone to skin;
And woodnuts rich, to make us go
Into the loneliest lanes we know.
Here - should you, like me, lament the passing of poetry memorisation and wish to program a few choice words into your little one's head the better to return, unbidden, in the years to come and give them countless joys - is a better one. It's by the Dorset poet W.H.Davies. It's not high art (not quite Keats, for sure) but it's well-crafted and pleasant and... memorable. I have. And I find the words coming back into my head at this time of year. Especially when the sun shines:
Rich Days
WELCOME to you rich Autumn days,
Ere comes the cold, leaf-picking wind;
When golden stocks are seen in fields,
All standing arm-in-arm entwined;
And gallons of sweet cider seen
On trees in apples red and green.
With mellow pears that cheat our teeth,
Which melt that tongues may suck them in;
With blue-black damsons, yellow plums,
Now sweet and soft from stone to skin;
And woodnuts rich, to make us go
Into the loneliest lanes we know.
September 27, 2015
National Childbirth Trust BabbleLive 2015
I'm back. Safe and sound and still with the lovely, warm glow that comes from being surrounded by people - many of whom volunteers - passionate about their subject, keen to learn and, from my point of view, to become more welcoming and inclusive of us dads.
I'd be disingenuous to say I wasn't just a little bit nervous, faced with a hall full of women (and a few men). The last time I'd been in the company of so many females it was at a cookery demonstration some years ago given by James Martin at Vinopolis, in Southwark. And it was fairly obvious, on that occasion, that many of them weren't there for the cookery demonstration. I was lucky to emerge unscathed.
Yesterday was a completely different proposition - in turns: fun, serious, thoughtful, thought-provoking and inspirational. Who could fail to be inspired by Errol and his Leeds Dads? Or by the willingness to share good ideas, reflect on current practice and debate the best ways the NCT can better support all involved in the process of birth and childcare.
It's a good job there are organisations like the National Childbirth Trust. Other providers may be available, but they may not be as reliable. When I attended the NHS ante-natal classes at the local hospital before the birth of my first child, we - mums and dads-to-be - went along every Monday evening for several weeks for two hourly sessions that covered pretty much everything, allowed plenty of scope for questions and left you feeling about as prepared as it's possible to be. By the time my wife was expecting Charlie, the sessions had been condensed to a single weekend. By the time his little sister came along, it was one Saturday morning. If you could make it.
Fortunately, being 'experienced' by then, it didn't really matter. But I wonder how I'd have felt as a first-time parent, if that was the only support available. There are books, of course. (One *ahem* called Fatherhood: The Essential Guide by yours truly!) But there's no substitute for experience and expertise which - combined with enthusiasm - the NCT has in abundance.
Long may it continue.
I'd be disingenuous to say I wasn't just a little bit nervous, faced with a hall full of women (and a few men). The last time I'd been in the company of so many females it was at a cookery demonstration some years ago given by James Martin at Vinopolis, in Southwark. And it was fairly obvious, on that occasion, that many of them weren't there for the cookery demonstration. I was lucky to emerge unscathed.
Yesterday was a completely different proposition - in turns: fun, serious, thoughtful, thought-provoking and inspirational. Who could fail to be inspired by Errol and his Leeds Dads? Or by the willingness to share good ideas, reflect on current practice and debate the best ways the NCT can better support all involved in the process of birth and childcare.
It's a good job there are organisations like the National Childbirth Trust. Other providers may be available, but they may not be as reliable. When I attended the NHS ante-natal classes at the local hospital before the birth of my first child, we - mums and dads-to-be - went along every Monday evening for several weeks for two hourly sessions that covered pretty much everything, allowed plenty of scope for questions and left you feeling about as prepared as it's possible to be. By the time my wife was expecting Charlie, the sessions had been condensed to a single weekend. By the time his little sister came along, it was one Saturday morning. If you could make it.
Fortunately, being 'experienced' by then, it didn't really matter. But I wonder how I'd have felt as a first-time parent, if that was the only support available. There are books, of course. (One *ahem* called Fatherhood: The Essential Guide by yours truly!) But there's no substitute for experience and expertise which - combined with enthusiasm - the NCT has in abundance.
Long may it continue.
September 24, 2015
At your own risk
Thanks to all who so kindly commented, emailed and/or tweeted in response to my last post. I now feel well and truly armed and ready for the NCT fray in Coventry on Saturday. Maybe I'll see you there?
Anyway, that's not all I'm up to at the moment. Next week sees me starting a creative writing class on behalf on Transported Arts. They want someone to lead a couple of taster sessions, with a view to establishing what they describe as a 'user-led' group. Fine my me. I'm looking forward to meeting the group.
What was slightly less fine was the paperwork involved. Although they - Transported - conduct a Risk Assessment of the venue (the local library, as it happens) I am required to provide a separate inventory of risks associated with my activities. That is, creative writing activities.
Now I know I sometimes style myself as a creative writer (or 'artist', as the contract for this gig has it) but my creative juices were a bit thin as far as this assignment was concerned. Risks associated with a creative writing class? What on earth did they expect? Paper cuts? Injuries sustained while using over-sharpened pencils? Possible ink-poisoning?
A brief conversation with others in a similar position confirmed I wasn't alone in finding the exercise... challenging. So, for the benefit of anyone else who might find themselves required to produce a risk assessment for a creative writing class, I share mine below for the free use of everyone and anyone to whom it might be of any use.
At your own risk.
Risk(s)
Manual handling of paper, writing equipment etc.
Likelihood: 2 (unlikely)
Action
Ensure assistance is provided as required to avoid injury
Risk(s)
RSI/pain/discomfort arising from sedentary nature of activity
Likelihood: 3 (possible)
Action
Ensure adequate opportunities to stand, move etc. are integrated into the session
Risk(s)
Possible eye strain associated with extended written work
Likelihood: 3 (possible)
Action
Include activities that allow participants to adopt distant focus or to temporarily exclude visual
stimuli entirely.
Risk(s)
Danger of emotional disturbance caused by personal nature of creative endeavour
Likelihood: 1 (highly unlikely)
Action
Ensure level of disclosure required for writing activities is appropriate to the age/ability of the group members
Anyway, that's not all I'm up to at the moment. Next week sees me starting a creative writing class on behalf on Transported Arts. They want someone to lead a couple of taster sessions, with a view to establishing what they describe as a 'user-led' group. Fine my me. I'm looking forward to meeting the group.
What was slightly less fine was the paperwork involved. Although they - Transported - conduct a Risk Assessment of the venue (the local library, as it happens) I am required to provide a separate inventory of risks associated with my activities. That is, creative writing activities.
Now I know I sometimes style myself as a creative writer (or 'artist', as the contract for this gig has it) but my creative juices were a bit thin as far as this assignment was concerned. Risks associated with a creative writing class? What on earth did they expect? Paper cuts? Injuries sustained while using over-sharpened pencils? Possible ink-poisoning?
A brief conversation with others in a similar position confirmed I wasn't alone in finding the exercise... challenging. So, for the benefit of anyone else who might find themselves required to produce a risk assessment for a creative writing class, I share mine below for the free use of everyone and anyone to whom it might be of any use.
At your own risk.
Risk(s)
Manual handling of paper, writing equipment etc.
Likelihood: 2 (unlikely)
Action
Ensure assistance is provided as required to avoid injury
Risk(s)
RSI/pain/discomfort arising from sedentary nature of activity
Likelihood: 3 (possible)
Action
Ensure adequate opportunities to stand, move etc. are integrated into the session
Risk(s)
Possible eye strain associated with extended written work
Likelihood: 3 (possible)
Action
Include activities that allow participants to adopt distant focus or to temporarily exclude visual
stimuli entirely.
Risk(s)
Danger of emotional disturbance caused by personal nature of creative endeavour
Likelihood: 1 (highly unlikely)
Action
Ensure level of disclosure required for writing activities is appropriate to the age/ability of the group members
September 21, 2015
Dads, I need your help
I'm speaking at the National Childbirth Trust's annual shindig in Coventry on Saturday and part of my remit is to discuss 'meeting the needs of dads' in a workshop following the opening session.
Now, I'm nothing if not needy and I'm sure I could easily fill the time with manifold (see what I did there?) wants and desires. But no. These are new times.
The Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition crowd sources questions for the weekly PMQs. Meanwhile, the PM may or may not do some pretty strange things to pigs. So, I thought I'd ask the dads out there to do the same. No, not unspeakable acts with pigs heads: supply some questions, raise some concerns, suggest what bodies like the NCT could do to improve the lot of us dads, or at least help us feel a little less like spare parts, encourage us to become more involved and - generally - help us to be better dads.
You can leave a comment below or tweet or email your suggestions as you think fit. There will not be a prize for the best suggestion. But I promise you won't appear twenty years later in my unofficial biography in connection with anything dodgy. Well, unless it has something to do wth dancing.
Now there's a suggestion for the NCT - lessons to help us avoid the calamity that is dad dancing...
He certainly seems to find it funny!
Now, I'm nothing if not needy and I'm sure I could easily fill the time with manifold (see what I did there?) wants and desires. But no. These are new times.
The Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition crowd sources questions for the weekly PMQs. Meanwhile, the PM may or may not do some pretty strange things to pigs. So, I thought I'd ask the dads out there to do the same. No, not unspeakable acts with pigs heads: supply some questions, raise some concerns, suggest what bodies like the NCT could do to improve the lot of us dads, or at least help us feel a little less like spare parts, encourage us to become more involved and - generally - help us to be better dads.
You can leave a comment below or tweet or email your suggestions as you think fit. There will not be a prize for the best suggestion. But I promise you won't appear twenty years later in my unofficial biography in connection with anything dodgy. Well, unless it has something to do wth dancing.
Now there's a suggestion for the NCT - lessons to help us avoid the calamity that is dad dancing...
He certainly seems to find it funny!
September 19, 2015
Happy Fortieth Birthday Fawlty Towers
Forty years ago this very evening, September 19th 1975, at nine of the clock on BBC Two, the first episode of the comedy institution that is Flowery Twats was first broadcast. Amazingly, the birth and early life was not without its complications. But no matter. Like Dad's Army, Monty Python and possibly Robin's Nest - actually, no - the show has become a classic. We're celebrating in the best way possible...
