Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 55
May 24, 2014
Father's Day Gift Guide
Welcome to the annual Father's Day Gift Guide where I, as a bona fide father for not a few years drop hints to anyone who might listen as to what dads really want... instead of socks.
There's something for everyone this year, from DIY to male grooming and musical amplification.
DIY, first. In my (rather limited, admittedly) experience good DIY involves having the right tools for the job. Log gone are the days when if I couldn't fix it with a hammer, it stayed broken. And from gluing broken ornaments back together to soldering intricate electrical wires, this Soldering Iron & Glue Gun Set is indispensable for any serious DIY dad.
Presented in a compact case, the 2-in-1 Tool Kit contains a 30W Soldering Iron and a 10W Glue Gun and is a must for any DIY enthusiast or home owner. The Soldering Iron has a long-reach tip that heats to a very high temperature and an insulated plastic handle. The Glue Gun has a pistol grip trigger action and comes with 2 glue sticks and resting stand. For all those tricky-to-see jobs, there is an adjustable 6cm diameter Magnifier with clips for using hands-free. For mains use. Case 25 x 22 x 7cm. Available from Presents for Men, price £19.99.
Next, a wonderful new device for all frustrated rock guitarist dads. The Make mega music with the Marshall MS-2 Micro Amp which can be used simply as a speaker or as an awesome Guitar Amp! This multifunctional mini Marshall has both Overdrive and Clean modes to allow you to channel your sound, lets you plug in your headphones for some sweet and easy listening, and on top of all that, you can get some deep delivery on your bass whilst bringing out that tuneful treble.
Just Jam on down with the ultimate gadget for every music lover! Available from www.prezzybox.com for only £27.95!
If wires aren't dad's thing, or if he simply wants to listen to rather than play the music then the Thumps Up! Touch Speaker might be just the job. Using NFA (Near Field Audio) to pick up on the phone's frequency and amplify the sound, simply place your phone on the speaker and away you go -great listening with the minimum of fuss (but maximum musical impact). It really packs a punch and belies the compact size (125mm x 70mm x 40mm). There's no need for wires or cables, just touch your phone to the speaker and select a song! It's available from Internet Gift Store priced £27.99.
Next, shaving. All (or the majority) of dads do it so it's a real staple of the Father's Day gift repertory, (as, thanks to having feet, are socks). As someone sporting a goatee barely noticeable from certain angles (and which I've been growing since I was 18) I may not be the ideal customer for the Bluebeard's Revenge range. But if your dad is a Desperate Dan look-a-like and problem shaver, this range might be just what he's after. Advertised modestly as 'the best shave of your life' and with a range extending from the hardware (razors, brushes, bowls, wash bags) to the software (oils, balms, cologne) is available the likes of Tesco, Holland and Barrett and GNC, as well as online at Feel Unique, All Beauty, ASOS, and Amazon UK and are 'guaranteed to delight any long-suffering father who has to battle with the razor on a daily basis.'
Finally, socks. If none of the above inspires you at least there's the fall back position of a pair of socks. But if you must choose socks, choose a pair with a difference like these ultimate thermal socks from Heat Holders. Not only are they extremely comfy, they're warm too - with a tog rating of 2.3 which equals seven times warmer than ordinary socks.
Mind you, dads, as a postscript what we really need is something that will warm the cockles of our hearts, eh? Like a special malt, something along the lines of a Macallan Gold or maybe a nice bottle of Highland Park. That way, we could really toast the day, don't you think?
Cheers!
There's something for everyone this year, from DIY to male grooming and musical amplification.
DIY, first. In my (rather limited, admittedly) experience good DIY involves having the right tools for the job. Log gone are the days when if I couldn't fix it with a hammer, it stayed broken. And from gluing broken ornaments back together to soldering intricate electrical wires, this Soldering Iron & Glue Gun Set is indispensable for any serious DIY dad.
Presented in a compact case, the 2-in-1 Tool Kit contains a 30W Soldering Iron and a 10W Glue Gun and is a must for any DIY enthusiast or home owner. The Soldering Iron has a long-reach tip that heats to a very high temperature and an insulated plastic handle. The Glue Gun has a pistol grip trigger action and comes with 2 glue sticks and resting stand. For all those tricky-to-see jobs, there is an adjustable 6cm diameter Magnifier with clips for using hands-free. For mains use. Case 25 x 22 x 7cm. Available from Presents for Men, price £19.99.
Next, a wonderful new device for all frustrated rock guitarist dads. The Make mega music with the Marshall MS-2 Micro Amp which can be used simply as a speaker or as an awesome Guitar Amp! This multifunctional mini Marshall has both Overdrive and Clean modes to allow you to channel your sound, lets you plug in your headphones for some sweet and easy listening, and on top of all that, you can get some deep delivery on your bass whilst bringing out that tuneful treble.
Just Jam on down with the ultimate gadget for every music lover! Available from www.prezzybox.com for only £27.95!
If wires aren't dad's thing, or if he simply wants to listen to rather than play the music then the Thumps Up! Touch Speaker might be just the job. Using NFA (Near Field Audio) to pick up on the phone's frequency and amplify the sound, simply place your phone on the speaker and away you go -great listening with the minimum of fuss (but maximum musical impact). It really packs a punch and belies the compact size (125mm x 70mm x 40mm). There's no need for wires or cables, just touch your phone to the speaker and select a song! It's available from Internet Gift Store priced £27.99.
Next, shaving. All (or the majority) of dads do it so it's a real staple of the Father's Day gift repertory, (as, thanks to having feet, are socks). As someone sporting a goatee barely noticeable from certain angles (and which I've been growing since I was 18) I may not be the ideal customer for the Bluebeard's Revenge range. But if your dad is a Desperate Dan look-a-like and problem shaver, this range might be just what he's after. Advertised modestly as 'the best shave of your life' and with a range extending from the hardware (razors, brushes, bowls, wash bags) to the software (oils, balms, cologne) is available the likes of Tesco, Holland and Barrett and GNC, as well as online at Feel Unique, All Beauty, ASOS, and Amazon UK and are 'guaranteed to delight any long-suffering father who has to battle with the razor on a daily basis.'
Finally, socks. If none of the above inspires you at least there's the fall back position of a pair of socks. But if you must choose socks, choose a pair with a difference like these ultimate thermal socks from Heat Holders. Not only are they extremely comfy, they're warm too - with a tog rating of 2.3 which equals seven times warmer than ordinary socks.
Mind you, dads, as a postscript what we really need is something that will warm the cockles of our hearts, eh? Like a special malt, something along the lines of a Macallan Gold or maybe a nice bottle of Highland Park. That way, we could really toast the day, don't you think?
Cheers!
May 19, 2014
Corporal William Foster Johnson
I've written about 'Uncle Will' before; I've referred to him in several posts, in fact.
But this year, of all years, it seems appropriate to mark the day of his death - a heroic death, a tragic death, a death among hundreds of thousands of other deaths between the years 1914 and 1918 but one made more poignant by being both personal to me as well as occurring a matter of months before the end of the war to end all wars.
I wonder what Uncle Will would have made of the fact that, twenty-odd years later, there'd be another war between the same sides fighting on the same western Front where he was fighting? Or that, since those guns stopped firing, there's barely been a year when they haven't been firing in anger somewhere in the world as part of some armed conflict.
Would he have fought so tenaciously in a cause he must, at the time, have thought just? He was a brave man, winner of the Military Medal as well as both the DSO and Bar. But would he have carried on such acts of bravery if he had known that the fighting would still rumble on, somewhere, probably for all time?
Knowing what little I know of him he probably would. But I would love to know more. We know when he died, where he is buried. But in spite of research (and help from various people) I can find out nothing about where he was serving when he sustained his fatal injuries, or what the map of his war was.
His battalion (12th West Yorks) was first merged (with 8th East Yorks) to form an entrenching battalion before being disbanded in April 1918 (a not uncommon occurrence when managing huge losses). But Uncle Will kept the same regimental number, suggesting he didn't go from the West Yorks to the East but was transferred within the Regiment somewhere else.
But where?
I'd love to find out more. I'd love to be able to put in place the pieces of Uncle Will's war jigsaw and those of the many others like him.
But in the meantime, in the words of Laurence Binyon, let it be enough merely, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, to remember them.
But this year, of all years, it seems appropriate to mark the day of his death - a heroic death, a tragic death, a death among hundreds of thousands of other deaths between the years 1914 and 1918 but one made more poignant by being both personal to me as well as occurring a matter of months before the end of the war to end all wars.
I wonder what Uncle Will would have made of the fact that, twenty-odd years later, there'd be another war between the same sides fighting on the same western Front where he was fighting? Or that, since those guns stopped firing, there's barely been a year when they haven't been firing in anger somewhere in the world as part of some armed conflict.
Would he have fought so tenaciously in a cause he must, at the time, have thought just? He was a brave man, winner of the Military Medal as well as both the DSO and Bar. But would he have carried on such acts of bravery if he had known that the fighting would still rumble on, somewhere, probably for all time?
Knowing what little I know of him he probably would. But I would love to know more. We know when he died, where he is buried. But in spite of research (and help from various people) I can find out nothing about where he was serving when he sustained his fatal injuries, or what the map of his war was.
His battalion (12th West Yorks) was first merged (with 8th East Yorks) to form an entrenching battalion before being disbanded in April 1918 (a not uncommon occurrence when managing huge losses). But Uncle Will kept the same regimental number, suggesting he didn't go from the West Yorks to the East but was transferred within the Regiment somewhere else.
But where?
I'd love to find out more. I'd love to be able to put in place the pieces of Uncle Will's war jigsaw and those of the many others like him.
But in the meantime, in the words of Laurence Binyon, let it be enough merely, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, to remember them.
May 17, 2014
Kenneth Cole Reaction 9 Dbl Gussett Backpack 17.3 Computer Rucksack Review
I'm constantly striving for the travelling nirvana - packing lite and having just the right bag for the job - so this Kenneth Cole Reaction Gusset Backpack is a welcome addition to the range. It's been sent to me by House of Fraser who are currently selling it for £60 (as opposed to £100) and judging by the robust zips, firm, padded pockets and variety of compartments that represents good value for money.
The spec is as follows:
9 Dbl Gussett Backpack (so will accommodate a 17.3 Laptop Computer)
Laptop compartment (obviously!)
Depth 36 cm
Height 45 cm
Width 20 cm
Empty, the backpack weighs next-to-nothing (sorry, non-technical language for it registers so little on my bathroom scales I can't calibrate the weight) yet seems as strong as it would need to be to both pack and protect a variety of gadgets, leads and other gizmos.
Multitudinous zips and pockets also allow for stuff to be safety and protectively stashed away (there's nothing worth than a lot of gear getting bashed about in one big bag) yet the design is generous enough (and non-specific) to allow you to adapt it to whatever kit you need to carry.
Highly recommended.
The spec is as follows:
9 Dbl Gussett Backpack (so will accommodate a 17.3 Laptop Computer)
Laptop compartment (obviously!)
Depth 36 cm
Height 45 cm
Width 20 cm
Empty, the backpack weighs next-to-nothing (sorry, non-technical language for it registers so little on my bathroom scales I can't calibrate the weight) yet seems as strong as it would need to be to both pack and protect a variety of gadgets, leads and other gizmos.
Multitudinous zips and pockets also allow for stuff to be safety and protectively stashed away (there's nothing worth than a lot of gear getting bashed about in one big bag) yet the design is generous enough (and non-specific) to allow you to adapt it to whatever kit you need to carry.
Highly recommended.
Saturday Kitchen
Sponsored post.
Spring is upon us, invigorating our senses with its fresh, crisp air, vivid colours and flourishing blooms. It’s time to pack away our hats and scarves and say goodbye to stodgy pies as we need lighter jackets on our backs and lighter meals on our plates!
But even with the sensational flavours and tastes that classic spring cooking has to offer, it can still be a challenge to please everyone. We have picked just a few of our favourite spring recipes that are guaranteed to delight the whole family so why not give them a try today?
Asparagus and ricotta tart
For a simple spring starter that will look and taste much more complex and time-consuming than it really is, start by baking some ready-rolled puff pastry for 15 minutes. Next, mix together the juice of one lemon, some ricotta, Parmesan and chopped sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and divide it between the pastry cases.
Top with asparagus spears, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes. Serve garnished with mint and chives and let the compliments roll in!
Spring salmon with minty veg
Salmon has long been a spring staple – not only is it delicious, it’s also easy to prepare. Start by bringing some new potatoes to the boil and adding frozen peas and green beans until they’re nice and tender. Blend some olive oil, lemon zest and mint for a dressing, drizzle over four salmon fillets and place them in a microwaveable dish.
Cover with cling film and microwave for five minutes before draining the vegetables and serving. Dribble some of the flavoursome sauce over the vegetables and even young children won’t be able to resist their greens!
Roast Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary
If you’re getting the family together for a traditional Sunday roast then why not give them succulent lamb - and avoid slaving over a hot oven all afternoon. This simple recipe keeps everybody happy. Take a good quality leg of lamb, cut slits in the top every few inches and push down four sliced garlic cloves, then sprinkle some sprigs of fresh rosemary on top.
Cook potatoes and parsnips in the tin around the lamb and roast at 180°C until medium-well done, add some fresh seasonal veg of your choosing and relax.
All that’s left to do is savour your mouth-watering handiwork and your time with your loved ones.
Finding more recipes online
These are just a few family favourites, but there are so many more recipes and hints to discover online, from the official websites of professional chefs to ordinary folks sharing their own cooking tips via Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
To get started, try the McCarthy & Stone Google+ page, which is packed with inspiring ways to get the most out of your meals. You may even find a few recipes to share while you’re there!
Sources: http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes...
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/35...
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/2160/r...
Spring is upon us, invigorating our senses with its fresh, crisp air, vivid colours and flourishing blooms. It’s time to pack away our hats and scarves and say goodbye to stodgy pies as we need lighter jackets on our backs and lighter meals on our plates!
But even with the sensational flavours and tastes that classic spring cooking has to offer, it can still be a challenge to please everyone. We have picked just a few of our favourite spring recipes that are guaranteed to delight the whole family so why not give them a try today?
Asparagus and ricotta tart
For a simple spring starter that will look and taste much more complex and time-consuming than it really is, start by baking some ready-rolled puff pastry for 15 minutes. Next, mix together the juice of one lemon, some ricotta, Parmesan and chopped sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and divide it between the pastry cases.
Top with asparagus spears, drizzle with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes. Serve garnished with mint and chives and let the compliments roll in!
Spring salmon with minty veg
Salmon has long been a spring staple – not only is it delicious, it’s also easy to prepare. Start by bringing some new potatoes to the boil and adding frozen peas and green beans until they’re nice and tender. Blend some olive oil, lemon zest and mint for a dressing, drizzle over four salmon fillets and place them in a microwaveable dish.
Cover with cling film and microwave for five minutes before draining the vegetables and serving. Dribble some of the flavoursome sauce over the vegetables and even young children won’t be able to resist their greens!
Roast Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary
If you’re getting the family together for a traditional Sunday roast then why not give them succulent lamb - and avoid slaving over a hot oven all afternoon. This simple recipe keeps everybody happy. Take a good quality leg of lamb, cut slits in the top every few inches and push down four sliced garlic cloves, then sprinkle some sprigs of fresh rosemary on top.
Cook potatoes and parsnips in the tin around the lamb and roast at 180°C until medium-well done, add some fresh seasonal veg of your choosing and relax.
All that’s left to do is savour your mouth-watering handiwork and your time with your loved ones.
Finding more recipes online
These are just a few family favourites, but there are so many more recipes and hints to discover online, from the official websites of professional chefs to ordinary folks sharing their own cooking tips via Twitter, Facebook and Google+.
To get started, try the McCarthy & Stone Google+ page, which is packed with inspiring ways to get the most out of your meals. You may even find a few recipes to share while you’re there!
Sources: http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes...
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/35...
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/2160/r...
May 14, 2014
Not the shrinking cap Grandpa!
Where is Sunnysands? Want to know where that wonderful, whimsical series Grandpa in my Pocket is filmed? Then the third in my occasional series of posts about CBeebies locations (following Old Jack's Boat and Baby Jake) will reveal all...
The first thing to reveal is that it isn't one place, but three. Four, if you include the studio. The original Jason Mason house (called Sea Horse Cottage in real life) is on the seafront at Aldeburgh in Suffolk and - like Old Jack's cottage in Staithes - seems at present to be a holiday let! That'd inspire the kids, surely? That, and the fact that it's a stone's throw from the beach!
Even better (if you've got half-a-million pounds to spare) - it's for sale. Yes, for a mere £495,000 this one-bedroomed semi on Crabbe Street could be yours. It's on the market with Jennie Jones. She's an Estate Agent.
Recovered yet?
Me neither. So let's wander a little further up the delightful Suffolk coast to Southwold. This was - and still is - the main backdrop for the exterior shots in the series, unmistakable with frequent views of the lighthouse (where Mr Mentor the Inventor lives) and pier, home to Miss Smiley's cafe.
Southwold is a gem, with ridiculously, crisp golden sandy beach and wonderfully colourful beach huts. I'd imagine the properties there are equally expensive, but the lighthouse isn't for sale.
Further up the coast - a lot further - and into the next county and we arrive at the current 'home' of the Masons, plus their shrinking Grandpa - Cley Mill, on the north Norfolk coast.
This is a real windmill (though no longer operational) and I have actually stayed there - it was (and still is) one of the most original B&Bs in the area. Cley (pronounced 'Cly') is an attractive Norfolk coastal village and boasts one of the best stocked delicatessens in the district as well as a delightful knapped-flint parish church.
The Mill itself no stranger to hosting TV and film crews, having featured in MGM's 1949 film 'Conspirator' with Elizabeth Taylor as well as being the scene of many of Ruth Rendell's Mysteries. It dates from the early 18th century and has uninterrupted sea views and stands adjacent to the reed beds and salt marshes that make the area one of the most important wildlife habitats in Britain.
I'm beginning to sound like an Estate Agent.
So, to end, one more Cley Mill telly fact. In the days, not that long ago, when BBC TVs continuity idents involved a large hot air balloon decorated like planet earth, Cley and the famous Mill featured on one of the sequences.
Not only that, the Mill sails (which have been fixed for almost a century, ever since the Mill was converted to accommodation in the 1920s) were actually seen once again to be to be rotating.
That's the magic of television!
The first thing to reveal is that it isn't one place, but three. Four, if you include the studio. The original Jason Mason house (called Sea Horse Cottage in real life) is on the seafront at Aldeburgh in Suffolk and - like Old Jack's cottage in Staithes - seems at present to be a holiday let! That'd inspire the kids, surely? That, and the fact that it's a stone's throw from the beach!
Even better (if you've got half-a-million pounds to spare) - it's for sale. Yes, for a mere £495,000 this one-bedroomed semi on Crabbe Street could be yours. It's on the market with Jennie Jones. She's an Estate Agent.
Recovered yet?
Me neither. So let's wander a little further up the delightful Suffolk coast to Southwold. This was - and still is - the main backdrop for the exterior shots in the series, unmistakable with frequent views of the lighthouse (where Mr Mentor the Inventor lives) and pier, home to Miss Smiley's cafe.
Southwold is a gem, with ridiculously, crisp golden sandy beach and wonderfully colourful beach huts. I'd imagine the properties there are equally expensive, but the lighthouse isn't for sale.
Further up the coast - a lot further - and into the next county and we arrive at the current 'home' of the Masons, plus their shrinking Grandpa - Cley Mill, on the north Norfolk coast.
This is a real windmill (though no longer operational) and I have actually stayed there - it was (and still is) one of the most original B&Bs in the area. Cley (pronounced 'Cly') is an attractive Norfolk coastal village and boasts one of the best stocked delicatessens in the district as well as a delightful knapped-flint parish church.
The Mill itself no stranger to hosting TV and film crews, having featured in MGM's 1949 film 'Conspirator' with Elizabeth Taylor as well as being the scene of many of Ruth Rendell's Mysteries. It dates from the early 18th century and has uninterrupted sea views and stands adjacent to the reed beds and salt marshes that make the area one of the most important wildlife habitats in Britain.
I'm beginning to sound like an Estate Agent.
So, to end, one more Cley Mill telly fact. In the days, not that long ago, when BBC TVs continuity idents involved a large hot air balloon decorated like planet earth, Cley and the famous Mill featured on one of the sequences.
Not only that, the Mill sails (which have been fixed for almost a century, ever since the Mill was converted to accommodation in the 1920s) were actually seen once again to be to be rotating.
That's the magic of television!
May 9, 2014
ZincSports Chozen White scooter review
Congratulations on getting your little kits on one of our great scooters! says the first line of the owners manual without the slightest hint of understatement.
The 'great scooter' in question is the Zinc Sports Chozen White, one of a range from Zinc, one of the top name in scooters.
The Chozen scooter features anodised aluminium 6061-T6 extruded deck with unique ZINC detailing for ultimate strength to weight and balance. (It is jolly robust - Zinc scooters are tested to withstand 1 TONNE of weight on the deck and handlebar...easily enough to accommodates my rather oversized frame.)
The Chozen also features a Zinc branded threadless headset and is compatible with HIC and standard bars. (I'm afraid I've no idea what that means!) Manufacturers Zero offset one piece wedge forks and a CNC goose neck for extra durability.... which is nice.
And finally, the Chozen has an integrated 4.5" wide x 19.5" long deck. The deck has squared edges making it fingerwhip friendly and it has two grind rails underneath the deck. Innit.
Basically it's a jolly robust, fast, and jolly good fun!
The 'great scooter' in question is the Zinc Sports Chozen White, one of a range from Zinc, one of the top name in scooters.
The Chozen scooter features anodised aluminium 6061-T6 extruded deck with unique ZINC detailing for ultimate strength to weight and balance. (It is jolly robust - Zinc scooters are tested to withstand 1 TONNE of weight on the deck and handlebar...easily enough to accommodates my rather oversized frame.)
The Chozen also features a Zinc branded threadless headset and is compatible with HIC and standard bars. (I'm afraid I've no idea what that means!) Manufacturers Zero offset one piece wedge forks and a CNC goose neck for extra durability.... which is nice.
And finally, the Chozen has an integrated 4.5" wide x 19.5" long deck. The deck has squared edges making it fingerwhip friendly and it has two grind rails underneath the deck. Innit.
Basically it's a jolly robust, fast, and jolly good fun!
May 7, 2014
Bully for you!
Bullying is in the news again. (Is it ever out of the news?) The suicide of a young girl bullied at a party, a death after years of homophobic bullying and the news that 400 pupils in Essex alone change schools each year to avoid bullies... will it ever end?
I've had plenty of first-hand experience of bullying in the past: I've dealt with it in schools as a teacher (and not just, I might add, bullying by pupils). But I'd never really thought of myself as a victim. Until now.
I was badly bullied at school. I was bullied for being the new boy, bullied for speaking in a different accent, bullied for not bullying other boys, bullied for being quite well-behaved in class and doing my homework, bullied - basically - for anything and everything.
It was a new experience for me. I’d not been bullied before. I attended several different schools thanks to frequent house moves and I was only really bullied at one of them, where my accent, attitude and actions stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb.
At the time, aged ten, I was at a loss to explain what was happening. The bullying was often violently physical. I remember one older boy literally kicking me - hard - up the backside all the way home one afternoon. If I ran (which I did) to try and get away then he could run faster and he had a run up and the kick was even harder.
As a teacher, dealing with bullying in schools, I've sometimes been at a loss to know exactly what to do. Because - no matter how unsympathetic it might sound or how politically incorrect - there is often a ‘victim’ type. There are some children who for some indefinable reason seem to attract bullying. Believe me, it’s true. And I’ve spent a lot of time counselling those individuals and trying - without shifting any blame - to help them learn strategies to avoid continuing to be the victim.
I wasn’t one of them. I’m not a typical ‘victim’. And I never really think that much these days about my own experience of bullying.
But then, last week, a report claiming that the effects of bullying can last for up to fifty years set me thinking. It’s a long time since the two-year bullying hell that was my time at this particular school (which I suppose had better remain nameless). But I do still think about it, now and then. It sometimes even figures in my dreams (or nightmares). So perhaps that report is right and - if you’re the victim of bullying - you’re going to suffer long after the bruises fade and the bullying stops.
It’s incredibly difficult to know what to do in schools as far as bullying is concerned. As I've already said, I found it hard that the pragmatic approach of training a child not be be victim seemed to suggest in some subtle way that it was their 'fault'. Which is anything but the truth.
And as a parent, in spite of my experience, I know I'd find it difficult to decide what to do if one of my children was involved. Do you encourage them to fight back? Assertiveness works, and strong words are good. But then bullies (at least, the physical ones) often don’t have words which is why they use their fists - and verbal jousting might just be as a red rag to a bull. And how can you know - before it's too late - if your child is being bullied? I never told my parents. There were other signs, including nightmares and school-refusal, but the culture of 'not telling tales' still sees most bullies safely through their schooling.
Reporting it, of course, is essential. Schools do have very clear procedures for dealing with bullying and all reported cases have to be recorded. But the term ‘bullying’ covers such a vast range of abusive behaviour - from name-calling to serious, physical assault - that it is tremendously difficult to deal with according to a single policy. Bullies - in spite of what we might think - aren’t all the same; they’re not all cowards; they don’t all bully because they're bullied themselves. (One recent reports even suggests that bullying makes children popular.) And victims too, are as different as you’d expect different people to be - from obviously vulnerable to the otherwise normal (like, I think, me).
So what can be done? Is the bully (like the poor, according the the Bible) someone we will always have among us? Or will, one day, the kind of bullying I experienced and which blights the lives of so many be as much of an historical anachronism as the fagging, beatings and abuse that were once ubiquitous at many public schools?
Something has to be done, that's certain.
But what?
If you're worried about bullying there are a number on online site that can help, including:
Kidscape
Childline
Beat Bullying
Bullying UK
April 30, 2014
Tarzan
Edgar Rice Burroughs’ TARZAN, one of the most classic and revered stories of all time, returns to the big screen on May 2nd completely reimagined and in stunning 3D for a new generation.
For the uninitiated, here's a synopsis:
On an expedition in the remote African jungle, John Greystoke and his wife are killed in a helicopter crash while investigating a mysterious meteorite site. Only their young son J.J., who calls himself Tarzan, survives. A Gorilla discovers the boy in the wreckage and brings him up as one of her own. Quickly discovering the rules of the jungle Tarzan lives as one with the apes he now calls his family. It is not until he comes into contact with another human being, the courageous and beautiful young Jane Porter, that he starts to question his past and uncover the truth of his childhood. Tarzan and Jane come together and fight to save the jungle from Greystoke Energies new CEO William Clayton, who plans to destroy the land in his search for a new energy source. However when Clayton discovers that the true heir of Greystoke is still alive it is not just the jungle that is in danger.
Anyway, to celebrate the film's launch we're offering you the chance to win one of these:
Simply leave a comment below before Sunday (midnight) and you could be one of two lucky winners who will each receive a pack containing:
- An official Tarzan t-shirt, and backpack
- A pen that wouldn't look out of place in the jungle
- An official Tarzan water bottle
- A Bug Inspector
- A Grow Your Own Tree Set
Good luck!
For the uninitiated, here's a synopsis:
On an expedition in the remote African jungle, John Greystoke and his wife are killed in a helicopter crash while investigating a mysterious meteorite site. Only their young son J.J., who calls himself Tarzan, survives. A Gorilla discovers the boy in the wreckage and brings him up as one of her own. Quickly discovering the rules of the jungle Tarzan lives as one with the apes he now calls his family. It is not until he comes into contact with another human being, the courageous and beautiful young Jane Porter, that he starts to question his past and uncover the truth of his childhood. Tarzan and Jane come together and fight to save the jungle from Greystoke Energies new CEO William Clayton, who plans to destroy the land in his search for a new energy source. However when Clayton discovers that the true heir of Greystoke is still alive it is not just the jungle that is in danger.
Anyway, to celebrate the film's launch we're offering you the chance to win one of these:
Simply leave a comment below before Sunday (midnight) and you could be one of two lucky winners who will each receive a pack containing:
- An official Tarzan t-shirt, and backpack
- A pen that wouldn't look out of place in the jungle
- An official Tarzan water bottle
- A Bug Inspector
- A Grow Your Own Tree Set
Good luck!
April 27, 2014
Vote UKIP?
Politics, as such, seldom makes an appearance on this blog. Partly because I'm not that interested. Party because I'm the original floating voter without any political allegiance whatsoever. And partly to avoid any obvious controversy.
But I have a theory. A theory about the popularity of that pariah party, UKIP. It occurred to me the other day while washing my hands after inadvertently coming into contact with one of their election leaflets.
My theory is this. People like UKIP not in spite of the random and rather silly things they say but because of them. Ok, hardly a revelation worthy of Einstein. But compare UKIP to any of the other parties, any of the other politicians (with the exception, perhaps, of Boris) and they seem a bit more like the rest of us. By which I mean they make mistakes, have half-baked ideas, open their mouths without thinking first and enjoy politically-incorrect pints and the odd cigarette. Or is that just me...
Anyway, the rest of politics is such a sanitised, scripted, gaffe-free and focus-group led wasteland I figure that people of all political hues and none are just glad to see some real people getting involved for a change. And the trouble when there's a shortage of something (real politicians who'll tell you what they think not what they think you want to hear) is that any deviation from the norm - no matter how crazy - is likely to be seized upon. Hence UKIP's apparent popularity.
In which case my advice to the other politicians is - stop listening to us. Stop telling everyone to look and sound the same. Stop being so scared of saying the wrong thing that you either shun the likes of Paxman or Humphries or end up sounding like a broken record when they're asking questions. Admit mistakes; share a joke. Have a cigarette if that what turns you on. Be human. Tell it as it is. And then well decide - in the only focus group that matters - whether to vote for you or not.
UKIP is popular, I suggest, because they're barely political at all in the sense of what the word has become in the last twenty years. Either that or because people really do think we can make a decent fist of it without the EU and are fed up with all the immigrants.
Soap and water, anyone?
But I have a theory. A theory about the popularity of that pariah party, UKIP. It occurred to me the other day while washing my hands after inadvertently coming into contact with one of their election leaflets.
My theory is this. People like UKIP not in spite of the random and rather silly things they say but because of them. Ok, hardly a revelation worthy of Einstein. But compare UKIP to any of the other parties, any of the other politicians (with the exception, perhaps, of Boris) and they seem a bit more like the rest of us. By which I mean they make mistakes, have half-baked ideas, open their mouths without thinking first and enjoy politically-incorrect pints and the odd cigarette. Or is that just me...
Anyway, the rest of politics is such a sanitised, scripted, gaffe-free and focus-group led wasteland I figure that people of all political hues and none are just glad to see some real people getting involved for a change. And the trouble when there's a shortage of something (real politicians who'll tell you what they think not what they think you want to hear) is that any deviation from the norm - no matter how crazy - is likely to be seized upon. Hence UKIP's apparent popularity.
In which case my advice to the other politicians is - stop listening to us. Stop telling everyone to look and sound the same. Stop being so scared of saying the wrong thing that you either shun the likes of Paxman or Humphries or end up sounding like a broken record when they're asking questions. Admit mistakes; share a joke. Have a cigarette if that what turns you on. Be human. Tell it as it is. And then well decide - in the only focus group that matters - whether to vote for you or not.
UKIP is popular, I suggest, because they're barely political at all in the sense of what the word has become in the last twenty years. Either that or because people really do think we can make a decent fist of it without the EU and are fed up with all the immigrants.
Soap and water, anyone?
April 23, 2014
How did one man capture all it is to be human?
Happy 450th to The Bard. The Bard! Not a bard, not any bard, not another bard nor an especially good example of a bard. No. The Bard. The one and only William Shakespeare.
Shakespeare has it all. Shakespeare has what other greats can only call on now and then, but has it all the time. Well, pretty much. I suppose even gods have their off-days.
There's always some debate or other about whether Shakespeare is relevant, whether he should be taught in schools or taught more often.
As far as I'm concerned you could probably teach most other things through Shakespeare, if you tried. All human life is there... and incidentally, that's just one of the many bits of Shakespeare we all of us say almost every day, probably without realising it. Others (and there are many) include what the dickens, mum's the word, for goodness sake and wild goose chase.
That's how big Shakespeare is.
And he's going to need a pretty big cake too. And a lot of puff. Today's his 450th birthday.
Happy Birthday, Bard!
Shakespeare has it all. Shakespeare has what other greats can only call on now and then, but has it all the time. Well, pretty much. I suppose even gods have their off-days.
There's always some debate or other about whether Shakespeare is relevant, whether he should be taught in schools or taught more often.
As far as I'm concerned you could probably teach most other things through Shakespeare, if you tried. All human life is there... and incidentally, that's just one of the many bits of Shakespeare we all of us say almost every day, probably without realising it. Others (and there are many) include what the dickens, mum's the word, for goodness sake and wild goose chase.
That's how big Shakespeare is.
And he's going to need a pretty big cake too. And a lot of puff. Today's his 450th birthday.
Happy Birthday, Bard!
