Saturday, December 24, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Is Earlestown Market Britain's Favourite Market?
People of Newton-le-willows may find this hard to believe, but Earlestown Market is up for a national award.
Somehow, it's got itself on the list of markets being considered for the Britain's Favourite Market award.
Now, anyone who has been to the place might scratch their head at how this has happened but hey, it's cliched to be cynical at Christmas, so, go on, get behind it. Click on this link to cast your vote or, if you want to find out more first, there's an article in the St Helens Star that explains all you need to know.
If only for the fact that Scully the St Helens fishmonger turns up every Friday, it gets my vote.
Somehow, it's got itself on the list of markets being considered for the Britain's Favourite Market award.
Now, anyone who has been to the place might scratch their head at how this has happened but hey, it's cliched to be cynical at Christmas, so, go on, get behind it. Click on this link to cast your vote or, if you want to find out more first, there's an article in the St Helens Star that explains all you need to know.
If only for the fact that Scully the St Helens fishmonger turns up every Friday, it gets my vote.
Liverpool poor in defence
David Davies is reported as saying that the Suarez racism case was among the 'most difficult of modern times'.
Notwithstanding the UK football media's determination to gorge itself to death on over analysis of every detail of life in the Premier League, that's just rubbish.
There is nothing complicated about it. All this 'cultural differences' claptrap is a complete red herring. Suarez admitted he called Evra something that includes reference to the colour of his skin. His apologists say that everyone else has misunderstood what he meant when he called him 'whatever he called him'.
Well let's just think about that. Was Suarez using the term to make a factual point, like, say, "Patrice Evra, you are a black man."? Obviously not. Was he using the term in an affectionate way, as in, say "Oh, Patrice, that was a great tackle, old bean/chap/my friend/dear boy/etc"? Of course not.
Which only leaves one more explanation. he called Evra a name relating to his race and meant it to be an insult.
That is racist behaviour. There is nothing complicated about that at all, in anyone's language, and it's disingenuous of Liverpool FC to refuse to accept that point. I like the club a lot, but its response to this whole affair is disappointing.
I think it's excellent that the FA have put a marker in the sand in this case. Eight games sounds a bit harsh but at least people know where they stand. I don't think that football is racist but anyone who does think it's OK to hurl racist abuse at someone on the grounds that they 'don't really mean it' has just been fired a warning shot.
Of course, I'm well interested in what happens to John Terry now. I don't like his image at all and would love for him to get a long overdue comeuppance, although that doesn't make him a racist of course. However if he's guilty, his punishment must be at least the same or even more severe than that which Suarez has received. If it isn't then Liverpool really would have grounds for complaint
Notwithstanding the UK football media's determination to gorge itself to death on over analysis of every detail of life in the Premier League, that's just rubbish.
There is nothing complicated about it. All this 'cultural differences' claptrap is a complete red herring. Suarez admitted he called Evra something that includes reference to the colour of his skin. His apologists say that everyone else has misunderstood what he meant when he called him 'whatever he called him'.
Well let's just think about that. Was Suarez using the term to make a factual point, like, say, "Patrice Evra, you are a black man."? Obviously not. Was he using the term in an affectionate way, as in, say "Oh, Patrice, that was a great tackle, old bean/chap/my friend/dear boy/etc"? Of course not.
Which only leaves one more explanation. he called Evra a name relating to his race and meant it to be an insult.
That is racist behaviour. There is nothing complicated about that at all, in anyone's language, and it's disingenuous of Liverpool FC to refuse to accept that point. I like the club a lot, but its response to this whole affair is disappointing.
I think it's excellent that the FA have put a marker in the sand in this case. Eight games sounds a bit harsh but at least people know where they stand. I don't think that football is racist but anyone who does think it's OK to hurl racist abuse at someone on the grounds that they 'don't really mean it' has just been fired a warning shot.
Of course, I'm well interested in what happens to John Terry now. I don't like his image at all and would love for him to get a long overdue comeuppance, although that doesn't make him a racist of course. However if he's guilty, his punishment must be at least the same or even more severe than that which Suarez has received. If it isn't then Liverpool really would have grounds for complaint
Monday, December 19, 2011
Snakes alive and spitting mad
I've had three trips to see the dentist in the past couple of weeks or so. Not nice and there's more to come I'm sorry to say.
Yet things could certainly be worse. Much, much worse in fact. I could actually have to live on the same street.
My dentist is situated slap bang in the middle of a built up row of terraced houses a couple of miles down the road from Newton-le-willows. Opposite is a pet shop.
Now I have nothing against pet shops but, if you were opening one up in a residential area, surely you would give a bit of thought for the neighbours. Surely you wouldn't decorate the front of your store with a massive 12 ft by 8ft picture of a giant snake.
Anyone who knows me well will vouch for how much I hate snakes but, aside from that, what on earth? This monstrosity is actually the first thing the neighbours who live opposite see when they open the curtains in the morning!
And just while I'm on the subject of my dentist, I'm very grateful indeed that she is sorting out my rotting pegs, painful though it is, but I'm not really quite sure about my fellow patients. I saw this notice up in the waiting room. Good grief what kind of people come here?
Yet things could certainly be worse. Much, much worse in fact. I could actually have to live on the same street.
My dentist is situated slap bang in the middle of a built up row of terraced houses a couple of miles down the road from Newton-le-willows. Opposite is a pet shop.
Now I have nothing against pet shops but, if you were opening one up in a residential area, surely you would give a bit of thought for the neighbours. Surely you wouldn't decorate the front of your store with a massive 12 ft by 8ft picture of a giant snake.
Anyone who knows me well will vouch for how much I hate snakes but, aside from that, what on earth? This monstrosity is actually the first thing the neighbours who live opposite see when they open the curtains in the morning!
And just while I'm on the subject of my dentist, I'm very grateful indeed that she is sorting out my rotting pegs, painful though it is, but I'm not really quite sure about my fellow patients. I saw this notice up in the waiting room. Good grief what kind of people come here?
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Review: Half Man Half Biscuit, Manchester Ritz, plus Lovecraft, 17 December 2011
I've heard of Lovecraft a few times. Apparently they're getting talked about in Liverpool, although they are miles apart from the the three or four piece indie-scallywag-Beatle-pop-type stuff for which the city is so famous.
And I must admit I thought they were crap at first. I had a little scout at a couple of their videos on YouTube and found them to be just a bit too odd for me.
But live is a different story and as the warm up to Half Man Half Biscuit's set at the Manchester Ritz, they came across as a proper class act. My mate Pete Corcoran, who I watched the show with last night, said the same - so it must be true - although we had sunk a few pints by that point.
The singer is clearly mad as cheese and I think in their videos that distracts from the fact that he's got a great band of musicians behind him. On stage, the frontman still puts on a show but you get a feel for the music that's being produced by the whole band and it sounds ace. There are seven of them in the full line-up, which is also a good thing in my book. I like bands who fill the stage.
What do they sound like? Well imagine a cross between The Divine Comedy and Dr and the Medics, dressed up as Arcade Fire.
If that sounds like your cup of tea then check them out on iTunes. The singles that you can get hold of on YouTube aren't even their best songs and don't do them justice so give the album a go instead. A copy came my way last night and I like the feel of it.
And if you're wondering, Half Man Half Biscuit were brilliant.
Friday, December 16, 2011
A random blog post on my big coat
A lot of people comment on my coat. I think that's mostly because when I wear it I look more coat than human, because it is very big - so it can be a conversation piece.
Some people have a favourite pair of shoes. My friend Des has a penchant for slippers. Other people only feel comfortable when they're wearing pyjamas. With me it's this coat.
It cost me about £80 in a sale a few years ago. Since then it's proved to be an absolute bargain. No other coat in the world is as warm. You could be in sub-Arctic temperatures and all you need to wear is a t-shirt and this coat.
Obviously this makes it suitable for a whole lot of stuff. I wear it to the match. It can even keep the cold out at Boundary Park. I wear it sometimes when I'm at the kids' football training (with the wind sweeping off the M6, the astroturf at Selwyn Jones is officially the coldest outdoor facility in the North West). I even put it on over my suit when work demands I have to wear one. I look a complete pillock like that but, hey, I'm warm.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Mary, Mary, not so contrary
Is anyone else bemused at how much exposure has been given to the government's research into what's wrong with Britain's High Streets?
Apparently there are lots of empty shops in our town centres. Gosh, I hadn't realised. They are "degenerating or failing too". Blimey, there's insight for you.
And two of the culprits behind this community Armageddon are online shopping and big supermarkets.
Who would have thought it, eh?
I don't know how much it cost the government to find out what anyone with a pair of eyes and half a clue about life in 21st century UK could tell them for free, but it was too much, whatever it was. I just cannot believe that the state of Britain's High Streets is news to anyone.
And the solutions put forward by Mary Portas are not much better. I do like the idea of a National Market Day (although it will never happen) but the other stuff is just astonishingly obvious. Cut some of the red tape, introduce free town centre parking, agree less prohibitive business rates and put an end to clueless local councillors deciding who can open up where are when are the kinds of proposals I would expect from a sixth former. They are all good ideas of course and I agree with most of what she says, but they are hardly road to Damascus visions.
The fact that none of these clearly sensible solutions has been implemented before makes you wonder if there is any real will among the national powers-that-be to improve the likes of Earlestown or Birkenhead.
Of course the biggest single step would be to curtail the relentless march of the Big Four supermarkets and some of the major chains. Rightly or wrongly (and most people know my view on that) that would make a difference. It's interesting that Mary hasn't recommended a moratorium on further out of town shopping destinations though. According to the Indy her PR company works for a number of them - but that's probably just a coincidence.
Apparently there are lots of empty shops in our town centres. Gosh, I hadn't realised. They are "degenerating or failing too". Blimey, there's insight for you.
And two of the culprits behind this community Armageddon are online shopping and big supermarkets.
Who would have thought it, eh?
I don't know how much it cost the government to find out what anyone with a pair of eyes and half a clue about life in 21st century UK could tell them for free, but it was too much, whatever it was. I just cannot believe that the state of Britain's High Streets is news to anyone.
And the solutions put forward by Mary Portas are not much better. I do like the idea of a National Market Day (although it will never happen) but the other stuff is just astonishingly obvious. Cut some of the red tape, introduce free town centre parking, agree less prohibitive business rates and put an end to clueless local councillors deciding who can open up where are when are the kinds of proposals I would expect from a sixth former. They are all good ideas of course and I agree with most of what she says, but they are hardly road to Damascus visions.
The fact that none of these clearly sensible solutions has been implemented before makes you wonder if there is any real will among the national powers-that-be to improve the likes of Earlestown or Birkenhead.
Of course the biggest single step would be to curtail the relentless march of the Big Four supermarkets and some of the major chains. Rightly or wrongly (and most people know my view on that) that would make a difference. It's interesting that Mary hasn't recommended a moratorium on further out of town shopping destinations though. According to the Indy her PR company works for a number of them - but that's probably just a coincidence.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
B-52's, Roam: One of my favourite songs #1
Blimmin' 'eck. I thought it would be easy, but it isn't. Inspired by Michael's attempt at The Marple Leaf's Big List of My Favourite Songs, I thought I'd jot down a quick list of my own top 100.
No such luck. In fact, no chance at all. My short list is far too long, which I'm told is the order of these things unless you spend two years or so whittling the list down.
So I thought I would take things more slowly. I've got a very long list that I could share on the Ear I Am blog but if I do it one at a time, then I'll be a bit more choosy - so I've persuaded myself anyway.
I'll bet I change my mind a million times before I end up with my favourite 100 so I'll start with one I know is on the list for sure. This actually sums up my record collection: bit indie, slightly mainstream, sometimes kooky, nice harmonies, lovely melody and a singer who looks HOT!!!!*
*as a 42 year old married dad of a few, am I allowed to describe a pop singer as hot? Too late.....
No such luck. In fact, no chance at all. My short list is far too long, which I'm told is the order of these things unless you spend two years or so whittling the list down.
So I thought I would take things more slowly. I've got a very long list that I could share on the Ear I Am blog but if I do it one at a time, then I'll be a bit more choosy - so I've persuaded myself anyway.
I'll bet I change my mind a million times before I end up with my favourite 100 so I'll start with one I know is on the list for sure. This actually sums up my record collection: bit indie, slightly mainstream, sometimes kooky, nice harmonies, lovely melody and a singer who looks HOT!!!!*
*as a 42 year old married dad of a few, am I allowed to describe a pop singer as hot? Too late.....
Sunday, December 04, 2011
Mitre Malmo training balls: don't waste your money
Whether it's on this blog, on twitter or on Facebook I generally stick to to the rules of never mentioning the kids (expect for my own, kid 2) and never publishing scores or commenting on our team's performance (well, not much anyway).
However, as far as I'm aware, there is nothing to stop me discussing equipment, particularly when I'm not happy about it.
People who are as old as me will probably remember Mitre as being THE football to own. These days nearly every ball is leather but when I was a kid a casey was a luxury and only to be used on grass - and a Mitre casey was the daddy of them all.
That might still be true actually. If you're paying a few quid for a matchball, Mitre seem to do the job.
But if it's training balls, you're after, don't go near them with a bargepole. At the start of the season I was given ten Mitre Malmo size 3 training balls. They looked the part and I thought they would last all season.
Not so. Two of them seemed to get 'reappropriated' in the chaos that is pre season training with hundreds of kids running wild while the coaches make valiant Fenton-like attempts to keep them under control.
That left me with eight. I gave one to another team, who were short on equipment, leaving me with seven and I now have none. All of them have burst
Yes, footballs get burst, I know. However, they shouldn't pop under the stress of seven year old kids kicking them too hard - but that's exactly what has happened.
Even worse, two of them have managed to get themselves punctured, while they have been in the kitbag, completely unused!
It's not just me either. One of the lads who runs another of our teams told me he has suffered the same problem. Mitre Malmo training balls have proved to be really poor quality.
I think they cost around £6 each. Not a fortune I know, but when you're buying ten at a time, it's a bit of an issue. DW Sports are flogging two lotto size three balls for eight quid at the moment and so I've bought a load of those instead. In my mind, lotto is an inferior brand to Mitre but, guess what, two months in and they're all still in top condition. When they do go pop I'll be buying them again
Friday, December 02, 2011
The real reason Jeremy Clarkson should be sacked by the BBC
The moral indignation of the Great British public really is a delight to behold. At the last count, the BBC had recorded over 21,000 complaints about Jeremy Clarkson.
And not before time I reckon. I don't know why people haven't complained before and in greater numbers. The BBC should give him the boot.
Not that I'm outraged about his apparent slight on public sector workers. Not at all. I have some sympathy for some of their issues but generally (and I never thought I would say this) I agree with Derek Hatton who made the point that there is a lot that public sector workers could complain about, but they need to choose their battles more carefully. A protest against remodelled pension conditions (however unfair they are) is unlikely to strike a chord or achieve much sympathy from the very many poorly paid private sector workers who can't afford any pension whatsoever and will have to work until they drop.
No, I'm more surprised that people haven't complained about Clarkson before on account of him being absolutely shit.
Please can someone explain to me the appeal of this man and his mates? I just don't get it. Here's a fact about his One Show antics: when he said he thought that strikers should be shot he didn't mean it. Of course he didn't. He was being 'funny'. Except he wasn't , was he? Not remotely funny at all.
I don't mean 'not funnny' as in we should be offended (David Prentis, wind your neck in and calm down please). No, I mean 'not funny' as in 'not funny' as in 'Jeremy Clarkson'.
I have actually watched Top Gear before so I'm not talking about something I haven't seen. I watched it and it is excruciating.Three nerds who probably got bullied at school and who get paid a fortune to be boorish while droning on about turbo horsepower and leather interiors. Boring, boring, boring and never, ever, ever funny.
Incidentally, and you may have guessed this already, I do agree with the school of thought that people who drive huge Lamborghinis or the likes are overcompensating for something they are lacking elsewhere.
This is of course why I am totally happy driving a small Toyota Yaris. Comfortable in my own skin, know what I mean?
And not before time I reckon. I don't know why people haven't complained before and in greater numbers. The BBC should give him the boot.
Not that I'm outraged about his apparent slight on public sector workers. Not at all. I have some sympathy for some of their issues but generally (and I never thought I would say this) I agree with Derek Hatton who made the point that there is a lot that public sector workers could complain about, but they need to choose their battles more carefully. A protest against remodelled pension conditions (however unfair they are) is unlikely to strike a chord or achieve much sympathy from the very many poorly paid private sector workers who can't afford any pension whatsoever and will have to work until they drop.
No, I'm more surprised that people haven't complained about Clarkson before on account of him being absolutely shit.
Please can someone explain to me the appeal of this man and his mates? I just don't get it. Here's a fact about his One Show antics: when he said he thought that strikers should be shot he didn't mean it. Of course he didn't. He was being 'funny'. Except he wasn't , was he? Not remotely funny at all.
I don't mean 'not funnny' as in we should be offended (David Prentis, wind your neck in and calm down please). No, I mean 'not funny' as in 'not funny' as in 'Jeremy Clarkson'.
I have actually watched Top Gear before so I'm not talking about something I haven't seen. I watched it and it is excruciating.Three nerds who probably got bullied at school and who get paid a fortune to be boorish while droning on about turbo horsepower and leather interiors. Boring, boring, boring and never, ever, ever funny.
Incidentally, and you may have guessed this already, I do agree with the school of thought that people who drive huge Lamborghinis or the likes are overcompensating for something they are lacking elsewhere.
This is of course why I am totally happy driving a small Toyota Yaris. Comfortable in my own skin, know what I mean?
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